Mayotte scops owl
| Mayotte scops owl | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Otus mayottensis | ||||||||||
| Benson , 1960 |
The Mayotte scops owl ( Otus mayottensis ) is a species of the scops owl ( Otus ). It is endemic to the Comoros island of Mayotte . Constantine Walter Benson described it in 1960 as a subspecies of the Madagascar scops owl ( Otus rutilus ). However, in 2000 it was recognized as a separate species.
features
The Mayotte scops owl reaches a size of 24 centimeters, a wing length of 166 to 178 millimeters, a tail length of 80 to 87 millimeters and a weight of about 120 grams. The top is gray-brown with streaks and worm lines. The neck band of light and dark spotted feathers is quite prominent. The shoulder feathers show a few whitish areas. There is no protruding shoulder stripe. The flight feathers are darker gray-brown with lighter bands. The tail is brownish-gray with not very protruding lighter bands. Their number is less than that of the Madagascar scops owl. The face veil is gray-brown with a rather inconspicuous dark border. The eyebrows are whitish. The throat is whitish with a protruding dark dash and banding. The short ear tufts are mottled light and dark gray-brown. The underside is more brownish than the upper side with blackish shaft stripes and white and dark worm lines. The legs are heavily feathered up to the tarsal joint. The eyes are yellow. The beak is gray-horn colored. The toes are light gray-brown, the claws are dark-gray-brown.
Vocalizations
The call is reminiscent of the call of the Madagascar scops owl; however, the individual " woohp-wooph " tones are longer, have a uniform spacing and are reproduced at significantly longer intervals.
habitat
The Mayotte scops owl is apparently true to location and inhabits evergreen forests.
Way of life
Little is known about the Mayotte scops' way of life. She is nocturnal. Like the Madagascar scops owl, it presumably feeds on insects and small vertebrates. Their brood biology has not been researched.
Existence and endangerment
Nothing is known about the development of the population. It appears to be widespread in its narrowly limited range and is therefore classified as not endangered by the IUCN . However, if deforestation continues on Mayotte, it could endanger the future of this species.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Pamela C. Rasmussen , Thomas S. Schulenberg, Frank Hawkins & Raminoarisoa Voninavoko: Geographic variation in the Malagasy Scops-Owl (Otus rutilus auct.): The existence of an unrecognized species on Madagascar and the taxonomy of other Indian Ocean taxa In: Bulletin of the British Ornithological Club 120, 2 (2000): pp. 75-102
literature
- Claus König & Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World. 2nd Edition. Christopher Helm, London 2008. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
Web link
- Otus mayottensis inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2014.