Scaly mud

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Scaly mud
Scaly mud

Scaly mud

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Rockers (Coraciiformes)
Family : Erdracken (Brachypteraciidae)
Genre : Geobiastes
Type : Scaly mud
Scientific name
Geobiastes squamiger
( Lafresnaye , 1838)

The Schuppenerdracke ( Geobiastes squamiger , Syn. : Geobiastes squamigera ) is a 28 to 30 centimeters high representative of the family of the ground roller .

Appearance

These birds have brownish plumage. The beak is black, the head is white and scalloped with black feathers. The short, round wings are greenish. The chest and head are colored black and white like scales. The legs are black or brown. The tail is brown and black on the sides.

distribution and habitat

This species is found in the rainforests of northeast Madagascar. She inhabits the undergrowth and the forest floor there.

Way of life

The Schuppenracke hunts for insects, spiders and smaller animals such as lizards and frogs , especially at dusk and at night on the ground . It moves very slowly and almost noiselessly through the undergrowth. On the ground, it usually walks around upright or with its head down and its tail raised. She usually spends short breaks on the branches of low trees. When threatened, it is exposed very quickly. It is believed that it hibernates in burrows. She has a very deep, muffled voice.

Reproduction

Their brood is placed in tree hollows or in self-dug earth tunnels. The breeding takes place between October and January. The clutch contains up to 6 eggs, which the female incubates for up to 18 days. An egg weighs around 17 grams. The young leave the nest at one month of age.

Hazards and protective measures

This species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN . The reasons for this are the destruction of their habitat by logging and the conversion into agricultural land. Occasionally they are also hunted for human consumption or by feral domestic dogs. This species occurs in various national parks on the island of Madagascar . The inventory is scientifically documented.

literature

  • Christopher M. Perrins : The Great Encyclopedia of Birds. Orbis Verlag, 1996 (German translation from English), ISBN 3-572-00810-7 , p. 205.
  • Goetz Rheinwald: Atlas of the bird world. UNIPART VERLAG GmbH, Remseck near Stuttgart 1994 (German translation from English), ISBN 3-8122-3399-1 , p. 158.
  • Christopher M. Perrins (Ed.): The FSVO encyclopedia birds of the world. Translated from the English by Einhard Bezzel. BLV, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2004, ISBN 978-3-405-16682-3 , p. 380 (title of the original English edition: The New Encyclopedia Of Birds. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2003).

Web links

Commons : Schuppenerdracke ( Geobiastes squamiger )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files