Spermestes
Appearance
Spermestes | |
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![]() | |
Bronze mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Estrildidae |
Genus: | Spermestes Swainson, 1837 |
Type species | |
Spermestes cucullata bronze mannikin Swainson, 1837
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Species | |
See text |
Spermestes is a genus of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae. They are distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
[edit]The genus Spermestes was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson to accommodate the bronze mannikin.[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek sperma meaning "seed" and -estēs meaning "-eater".[2]
Based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020, this genus was resurrected for a clade of species that were formerly assigned to the genera Lonchura and Odontospiza.[3][4]
Species
[edit]The genus contains four species:[4]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Grey-headed silverbill | Spermestes griseicapilla (Delacour, 1943) |
eastern Africa![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
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Bronze mannikin | Spermestes cucullata Swainson, 1837 |
Africa south of the Sahara Desert![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
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Magpie mannikin | Spermestes fringilloides (Lafresnaye, 1835) |
Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
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Black-and-white mannikin | Spermestes bicolor (Fraser, 1843) Four subspecies
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African tropical rainforest![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
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References
[edit]- ^ Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. Vol. 2. London: John Taylor. p. 280.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ Olsson, Urban; Alström, Per (2020). "A comprehensive phylogeny and taxonomic evaluation of the waxbills (Aves: Estrildidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 146: 106757. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106757. PMID 32028027.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 February 2023.