Grasshopper deer
| Grasshopper deer | ||||||||||||
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Grasshopper deer ( Paludipasser locustella ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Paludipasser | ||||||||||||
| Neave , 1909 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Paludipasser locustella | ||||||||||||
| Neave , 1909 |
The grasshopper deer ( Paludipasser locustella , syn .: Ortygospiza locustella ) is the only species of the genus grasshopper deer ( Paludipasser ) from the finch family .
Appearance
Unusually for fine finches , the grasshopper tiger shows a pronounced sexual dimorphism : the beak, face, chin, throat and the sides of the neck are bright red, while the rest of the body plumage shows a dark brown to black color. In the female, however, this red body color is largely absent. The throat and chest are pale brown here.
Distribution area
The grasshopper deer inhabits two subspecies in some very widely spaced regions of the African continent south of the Sahara . In addition to small distribution areas in western Angola , in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the bordering south-western Sudan, there is also a region on the central reaches of the Congo . A very large distribution area extends from the south of Tanzania and from the west of Mozambique to the southeastern Zimbabwe to the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
habitat
Similar to the quail deer , grasshopper deer prefer treeless regions, which are characterized by a more humid short grass population and sandy soil. If they are startled, they look for hiding places in the nearest grass thicket. This species also builds its spherical nest in or under tufts of grass.
Systematics
The systematic genus classification of the grasshopper deer is still controversial. It is often assigned to the genus of the Wachtelastrilde ( Ortygospiza ) together with the Wachtelastrild . It is undisputed that certain family relationships exist between these two species. Due to the similarly existing relationship to gold breasts , tiger tiger and olive green astrild , it is also assigned to its own genus. This article also follows this assignment.
Grasshopper deer and bird keeping
Among the fine finch species, the grasshopper deer is one of the rarely kept birds. He is an outspoken nutrition specialist who only eats very fine grass seeds.
supporting documents
literature
- Jürgen Nicolai (Ed.), Joachim Steinbacher (Ed.), Renate van den Elzen, Gerhard Hofmann, Claudia Mettke-Hofmann: Prachtfinken - Afrika , Series Handbuch der Vogelpflege, Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-8001- 4964-3
- Peter Clement , Alan Harris, John Davis: Finches and Sparrows. An Identification Guide. Christopher Helm, London 1993, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2 .
Single receipts
- ↑ Clemens et al., P. 3834
- ↑ Avibase entry grasshopper deer ( Ortygospiza locustella ) (Neave, 1909)
- ↑ Nicolai et al., P. 309