Urocolius
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox Urocolius is a small genus of mousebirds.
Species
It consists of two species which inhabit Eastern and Southern Africa:
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Urocolius macrourus-20090110B.jpg | Blue-naped mousebird | Urocolius macrourus | East Africa |
| File:Red-faced mousebird, Urocolius indicus, at Pilanesberg National Park, Northwest Province, South Africa (28386317850).jpg | Red-faced mousebird | Urocolius indicus | southern Africa from Zaire, Zambia and Tanzania south to the Cape. |
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Description
They are typically about 32 cm (13 in) long omnivorous birds, eating insects, small millipedes and plant material. Urocolius indicus in particular eats a great deal of fruit, leaves, buds, flowers, nectar and similar material.[1]
"Urocolius" archiaci, "U." consobrinus and "U." paludicola are 3 taxa described from fragmentary Early Miocene remains found at Saint-Gérand-le-Puy in France. Their taxonomic history is convoluted, being initially described as woodpeckers and variously merged and split. Today it is believed that at least 2 belong to the prehistoric genus Limnatornis. They sometimes are all united under the first of the 3 names although it is not clear with what justification. The same rationales presumably apply for undescribed but similar remains found in Late Miocene strata at Kohfidisch (Austria).[2]
References
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- ↑ Maclean, Gordon Lindsay. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa Publisher: New Holland 1993. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Mlíkovský, Jirí (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe. Ninox Press, Prague. Template:ISBN PDF fulltext Template:Webarchive
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