Apus (genus)
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Cape Swift ( Apus caffer ), Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve |
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| Scopoli , 1777 |
Apus is a genus of birdsinthe sailor family (Apodidae). The genus comprises 15 species , the status of three other species is disputed.
species
The species in this genus are small to medium-sized sailors found only in the Old World , most of them in Africa. Of these, 6 are endemic , 5 other species overwinter or breed in Africa, but can also be found elsewhere. Five species breed in the western Palearctic , almost all of them overwinter in sub- Saharan Africa .
The best-known representative of this genus in Europe is the common swift , which is the only one there that has an extensive distribution. Other species of this genus that occur in Europe are pale swifts and Cape swifts , but these only occur in southern Europe . The largest species of this genus is the Pacific ship with a body length of 17 to 18 centimeters, the house ship with 12 centimeters the smallest.
description
Sailors are reminiscent of swallows , but are not closely related to them, it is a matter of convergent evolution . They feed exclusively on insects and arachnids , which they prey on in flight.
The wings are long and sickle-shaped, the tail is long compared to other sailors and deeply forked in most species, only in the house sailor it looks straight cut. Your "clamp foot" has strong claws, all four toes are pointing forward. The number of links at the 3rd and 4th toes is reduced to three. The legs are very short. There are two variants of plumage color: darker black with a lighter white throat and black to medium brown with a paler, less contrasting throat.
The sailors of the genus Apus nest in caves and crevices, mostly high up on rocks or buildings. The clutches are usually small (2–4 eggs).
Systematics
The following species are included in the genus:
- Alexander Swift ( Apus alexandri )
- Common Swift ( Apus apus )
- Monochrome swift ( Apus unicolor )
- Brown swift ( Apus niansae )
- Pallid Swift ( Apus pallidus )
- Cape Swift ( Apus barbatus )
- Socotra Swift ( Apus berliozi )
- Damaras Swift ( Apus bradfieldi )
- Pacific Swift ( Apus pacificus )
- Glossy-backed sailor ( Apus acuticauda )
- House sailor ( Apus affinis )
- Malay Swift ( Apus nipalensis )
- Horus swift ( Apus horus )
- Cape Swift ( Apus caffer )
- Black Swift ( Apus batesi )
Other species not recognized by all authors are Apus sladeniae , Apus balstoni and Apus toulsoni . The Alpine Swift is usually in recent classifications along with the shed sailor 's own genus Tachymarptis assigned.
poetry
- Hans Magnus Enzensberger : Apus Apus . Frankfurt anthology
literature
- Phil Chantler, Gerald Driesses: A Guide to the Swifts and Tree Swifts of the World . Pica Press, Mountfield 2000, ISBN 1-873403-83-6
- UN Glutz von Blotzheim, KM Bauer : Handbook of the birds of Central Europe . (HBV). Volume 9: Columbiformes - Piciformes. AULA-Verlag 1994, ISBN 3-89104-562-X .
