Urocolius
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 Blue-naped Mousebird
Urocolius macrourus |
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Urocolius is a small genus of mousebirds. It consists of two species which inhabit Eastern and Southern Africa:
- Blue-naped Mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
- Red-faced Mousebird, Urocolius indicus
They are typically about 32 cm (13 in.) long omnivorous birds, eating insects, small millipedes and plants.
"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 they at least 2 belong into a prehistoric genus Limnatornis, but sometimes they 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 af Kohfidisch (Austria).[1]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Mlíkovský (2002)
[edit] References
- Mlíkovský, Jirí (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe. Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 PDF fulltext
[edit] External links
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