Ruvu weaver

The Ruvu weaver (Ploceus holoxanthus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is endemic to eastern Tanzania.

Ruvu weaver
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Ploceidae
Genus:	Ploceus
Species:	P. holoxanthus
Binomial name
Ploceus holoxanthus Hartlaub, 1891

Initially described as a distinct species by Gustav Hartlaub in 1891, it was synonymized with the eastern golden weaver (P. subaureus) by the majority of later authorities. However, critical morphological analysis in 2021 confirmed it as being a distinct species. It can be generally distinguished from P. subaureus by the darker brown eye of the male and the lighter lower mandible of the female.^[1]

It has a very restricted distribution in Tanzania, being only found along the Ruvu, Wami, and Rufiji river basins. Several colonies are known from the vicinity of Morogoro.^[1]