Newtonia

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Newtonia
Rust-bellied Newtonia (Newtonia brunneicauda)

Rust-bellied Newtonia ( Newtonia brunneicauda )

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Superfamily : Corvoidea
Family : Vanga shrike (Vangidae)
Subfamily : Vanginae
Genre : Newtonia
Scientific name
Newtonia
Schlegel & Pollen , 1868

The Newtonia ( Newtonia ) are a genus of songbirds endemic to Madagascar from the family of the Vangawurger (Vangidae).

features

Newtonians are small, clumsy birds that can reach sizes up to 12 cm. They have thin beaks and usually light eyes. The plumage is predominantly gray or brown and lighter on the underside. They have loud, repetitive chants.

Habitat, way of life and status

Newtonians inhabit forests and bushland. They go in pairs foraging and feed on insects. They can often be seen in mixed flocks of birds. Apart from the Fanovananewtonia ( Newtonia fanovanae ), which is classified as "endangered" ( vulnerable ) by the IUCN , the other Newtonia species are considered safe.

Systematics

A distinction is made between five species, four of which were originally considered members of the flycatchers (Muscicapidae) or warblers (Sylviidae). However, a 2001 genetic study showed that the Newtonians are closely related to the Vanga stranglers. The genus was first described in 1868 by Hermann Schlegel and François Pollen based on the rust-bellied Newtonia , which Alfred Newton described in 1863 as Erythrosterna (?) Brunneicauda and after which the entire genus was named.

The following types are known:

  • Rust-bellied Newtonia ( Newtonia brunneicauda ) Distribution: wooded parts of Madagascar, especially in central Madagascar.
  • Olivbauchnewtonie ( Newtonia amphichroa ) Origin: East of Madagascar Montagne d'Ambre south to Andohahela
  • Brown- fronted Newtonia ( Newtonia archboldi ) Distribution: southwestern and southern Madagascar
  • Fanovananewtonie ( Newtonia fanovanae ) Distribution: Eastern Madagascar from Marojejy south to Andohahela.
  • Newtonia lavarambo Distribution: Fianarantsoa . The holotype wascollectedin 2003 by David E. Willard . The species was scientifically described in 2018.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Yamagishi, Satoshi; Honda, Masanao; Eguchi, Kazuhiro & Thorstrom, Russel (2001) "Extreme endemic radiation of the Malagasy Vangas (Aves: Passeriformes)" Journal of Molecular Evolution , 53: 39-46
  2. ^ Hermann Schlegel & François Pollen (1868): Recherches sur la faune de Madagascar et de ses dépendances, d'après les découvertes de François PL Pollen et DC Van Dam (JK Steenhoff (EJ Brill), Leiden) partie 2: Mammifères et oiseaux : 101-102 online

literature

  • Sinclair, Ian & Langrand, Olivier (1998) Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands. Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 978-1-86872-956-2 , p. 140.
  • J. Del Hoyo, A. Elliot, J. Sargatal (Eds.): Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2006, ISBN 978-84-96553-06-4 (Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11). Pp. 689-690.
  • Jane L. Younger, Lynika Strozier, J. Dylan Maddox, Árpád S. Nyári, Matthew T. Bonfitto, Marie J. Raherilalao, Steven M. Goodman, Sushma Reddy: Hidden diversity of forest birds in Madagascar revealed using integrative taxonomy. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2018), doi: 10.1016 / j.ympev.2018.02.017 .