DOCSLIB.ORG

Functional Morphology of the Lingual Apparatus of Sandgrouse (Aves: Pteroclidae)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Functional Morphology of the Lingual Apparatus of Sandgrouse (Aves: Pteroclidae) Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1993 Functional Morphology of the Lingual Apparatus of Sandgrouse (Aves: Pteroclidae). Werner Muller Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Muller, Werner, "Functional Morphology of the Lingual Apparatus of Sandgrouse (Aves: Pteroclidae)." (1993). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 5661. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/5661 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Order Number 9419915 Functional morphology of the lingual apparatus of sandgrouse (Aves; Pteroclidae) Muller, Werner, Ph.D. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical Col., 1993 UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE LINGUAL APPARATUS OF SANDGROUSE (AVES; PTEROCLIDAE) A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Zoology and Physiology by Werner Muller Vor-Diplom (B.S. equivalent), University of Konstanz, Germany, 1979 Diplom (M.S. equivalent) in Biology, University of Tubingen, Germany, 1986 December 1993 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who helped me with this dissertation. I am grateful to Dr. J. V. Remsen for his unbending support in the final stages of this work. I also thank the other members of my committee for their support and their time in reviewing the dissertation: Drs. J. W. Fleeger, D. A. Good, D. J. Hillmann, D. A. Rossman, and H. Silverman. This study was begun while working under the supervision of Dr. D. G. Homberger. I learned much during that time and the dissertation benefitted from her expertise. Many good friends, some of them far away and by means of subspace-communication, contributed crucially to my emotional equilibrium. Specimens were received from the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa, and from the Museum of Natural Science, LSU. I am grateful to both institutions and their curators. Finally, I would like to thank my family. It is hard to imagine not having one like this. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................... ii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................... V LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................. viii ABSTRACT ............. XV 1. INTRODUCTION .......................... 1 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS .............................. 5 3. ANATOMICAL DESCRIPTIONS .......................... 8 3.1. Description of Pterocles namaqua .............. 9 3.1.1. Skeletal elements ................... 9 3.1.1.1. Introduction .................. 9 3.1.1.2. Mandibula - mandible ........ 9 3.1.1.3. Apparatus hyobranchialis - hyoid apparatus .......................... 11 3.1.1.3.1. Os epibranchiale - epibranchial ... 11 3.1.1.3.2. Os ceratobranchiale - ceratobranchial ................ 11 3.1.1.3.3. Os basibranchiale rostrale et caudale - basibranchial .... 12 3.1.1.3.4. Os entoglossum - entoglossal ..... 14 3.1.1.4. Arthrologia of the Apparatus hyobranchialis .............. 16 3.1.1.4.1. Articulatio entoglosso - basibranchialis ............... 16 3.1.1.4.2. Articulatio ceratobasibranchialis . 17 3.1.1.4.3. Synchondrosis intracornualis ..... 18 3.1.2. Musculature ....... 18 3.1.2.1. Introduction .......................... 18 3.1.2.2. M. constrictor colli .................. 19 3.1.2.3. M. cucullaris ......................... 30 3.1.2.4. M. intermandibularis .................. 39 3.1.2.5. M . branchiomandibularis ............... 45 3.1.2.6. M. genioglossus ............... 53 3.1.2.7. M. serpihyoideus ...................... 56 3.1.2.8. M. stylohyoideus ................... 59 3.1.2.9. M. interceratobranchialis ........... 61 3.1.2.10. M. ceratoglossus ............... 64 3.1.2.11. M. hypoglossus obliquus .............. 66 3.1.2.12. M. hypoglossus rostralis ............. 69 3.1.2.13. M. cricohyoideus .................... 71 3.1.2.14. M. sternohyoideus .................... 74 3.1.2.15. M. tracheolateralis .................. 82 3.1.3. Salivary glands ........................... 83 3.1.3.1. Introduction .......................... 83 3.1.3.2. Gl. mandibularis rostralis ....... 85 3.1.3.3. Gl. mandibularis caudalis ............ 87 3.1.3.4. Gl. lingualis rostralis .............. 88 3.1.3.5. Gl. lingualis caudalis ............... 89 3.1.3.6. Gl. cricoarytenoidea ................. 90 3.1.4. Surface morphology of the oropharyngeal cavity ............................... 91 3.1.4.1. Palatum - palate ...................... 93 3.1.4.2. Lingua - tongue ....................... 96 3.1.4.2.1. Free part of the tongue .......... 96 3.1.4.2.2. Preglottal part of the tongue .... 100 3.1.4.3. Mons laryngealis - laryngeal mound .... 103 3.1.4.4. Floor of the mouth .................... 104 3.2. Short-description of Pterocles decoratus ...... 108 3.3. Short-description of Pterocles gutturalis .... 117 3.4. Synopsis of the functional interpretation of the lingual apparatus of sandgrouse ...... 125 4. COMPARISON TO OTHER SPECIES ....................... 127 5. DISCUSSION ........................................ 131 REFERENCES ........................................... 136 FIGURES .............................................. 147 VITA ................................... 213 iv LIST OF FIGURES page Fig. 1: Dorsal view of the head, neck, and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732)........................................ 147 Fig. 2: Lateral view of the head, neck, and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732) .................................... 149 Fig. 3: Ventral view of the head, neck, and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732).... 151 Fig. 4: Lateral view of the head and cranial part of the neck of Pterocles namacrua (TM 61732)..... 153 Fig. 5: Ventral view of the head and cranial part of the neck of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732)........ 155 Fig. 6: Dorsal view of the head and cranial part of the neck of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732) ...... 157 Fig. 7: Dorsal view of the caudal part of the neck and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732)....... 159 Fig. 8: Lateral view of the caudal part of the neck and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732) .............. 161 Fig. 9: Ventral view of the caudal part of the neck and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732)..................... 163 Fig. 10: Lateral view of the head, neck, and cranial part of the pectoral region of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732)....................................... 165 Fig. 11: Ventral view of the head and cranial part of the neck of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732)..... 167 Fig. 12: Lateral view of the head and cranial part of the neck of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732)........ 169 Fig. 13: Dorsal view of the lingual apparatus and the floor of the mouth of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732) after isolation from the mandible and head............................ 171 Fig. 14: Ventral view of the lingual apparatus and v the floor of the mouth of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732) after isolation from the mandible and head. .................................. ....... 173 Fig. 15: Ventral view of the lingual apparatus and the floor of the mouth of Pterocles namaoua (TM 61732) after isolation from the mandible and head..... ...................... ................. 175 Fig. 16: Ventral view of the lingual apparatus and the floor of the mouth of Pterocles namaqua (TM 61732) after isolation from the mandible and head...... ......................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Phylogenetic Reanalysis of Strauch's Osteological Data Set for The
    TheCondor97:174-196 0 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1995 PHYLOGENETIC REANALYSIS OF STRAUCH’S OSTEOLOGICAL DATA SET FOR THE CHARADRIIFORMES PHILIP c. CHU Department of Biology and Museum of Zoology The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Abstract. Strauch’s (1978) compatibility analysisof relationshipsamong the shorebirds (Charadriifonnes) was the first study to examine the full range of charadriifonn taxa in a reproducibleway. SubsequentlyMickevich and Parenti (1980) leveled seriouscharges against Strauch’s characters,method of phylogenetic inference, and results. To account for these charges,Strauch ’s characterswere re-examined and recoded, and parsimony analyseswere performed on the revised matrix. A parsimony analysison 74 taxa from the revised matrix yielded 855 shortesttrees, each length = 286 and consistencyindex = 0.385. In each shortest tree there were two major lineages,a lineageof sandpiper-likebirds and a lineageof plover- like birds; the two formed a monophyletic group, with the auks (Alcidae) being that group’s sister taxon. The shortest trees were then compared with other estimates of shorebird re- lationships, comparison suggestingthat the chargesagainst Strauch’s results may have re- sulted from the Mickevich and Parenti decisions to exclude much of Strauch’s character evidence. Key words: Charadrilformes; phylogeny; compatibility analysis: parsimony analysis; tax- onomic congruence. INTRODUCTION Strauch scored 227 charadriiform taxa for 70 The investigation of evolutionary relationships characters. Sixty-three of the characters were among shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) has a taken from either the skull or postcranial skel- long history (reviewed in Sibley and Ahlquist eton; the remaining seven involved the respec- 1990). Almost all studies used morphology to tive origins of three neck muscles, as published make inferences about shared ancestry; infer- in Burton (1971, 1972, 1974) and Zusi (1962).
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Bharatpur – Check List
    BIRDS OF BHARATPUR – CHECK LIST Family PHASIANIDAE: Pheasants, Partridges, Quail Check List BLACK FRANCOLIN GREY FRANCOLIN COMMON QUAIL RAIN QUAIL JUNGLE BUSH QUAIL YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTON QUAIL BARRED BUTTON QUAIL PAINTED SPURFOWL INDIAN PEAFOWL Family ANATIDAE: Ducks, Geese, Swans GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE GREYLAG GOOSE BAR-HEADED GOOSE LWSSER WHISTLING-DUCK RUDDY SHELDUCK COMMON SHELDUCK COMB DUCK COTTON PYGMY GOOSE MARBLED DUCK GADWALL FALCATED DUCK EURASIAN WIGEON MALLARD SPOT-BILLED DUCK COMMON TEAL GARGANEY NORTHERN PINTAIL NORTHERN SHOVELER RED-CRESTED POCHARD COMMON POCHARD FERRUGINOUS POCHARD TUFTED DUCK BAIKAL TEAL GREATER SCAUP BAER’S POCHARD Family PICIDAE: Woodpeckers EURASIAN WRYNECK BROWN-CAPPED PYGMY WOODPECKER YELLOW-CROWNED WOODPECKER BLACK-RUMPED FLAMBACK Family CAPITONIDAE: Barbets BROWN-HEADED BARBET COPPERSMITH BARBET Family UPUPIDAE: Hoopoes COMMON HOOPOE Family BUCEROTIDAE: Hornbills INDAIN GREY HORNBILL Family CORACIIDAE: Rollers or Blue Jays EUROPEAN ROLLER INDIAN ROLLER Family ALCEDINIDAE: Kingfisher COMMON KINGFISHER STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER PIED KINGFISHER Family MEROPIDAE: Bee-eaters GREEN BEE-EATER BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER Family CUCULIDAE: Cuckoos, Crow-pheasants PIED CUCKOO CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO COMMON HAWK CUCKOO INDIAN CUCKOO EURASIAN CUCKOO GREY-BELLIED CUCKOO PLAINTIVE CUCKOO DRONGO CUCKOO ASIAN KOEL SIRKEER MALKOHA GREATER COUCAL LESSER COUCAL Family PSITTACIDAS: Parrots ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET PLUM-HEADED PARKEET Family APODIDAE:
    [Show full text]
  • N° English Name Scientific Name Status Day 1
    1 FUNDACIÓN JOCOTOCO CHECK-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF YANACOCHA N° English Name Scientific Name Status Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 1 Tawny-breasted Tinamou Nothocercus julius R 2 Curve-billed Tinamou Nothoprocta curvirostris U 3 Torrent Duck Merganetta armata 4 Andean Teal Anas andium 5 Andean Guan Penelope montagnii U 6 Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii 7 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 8 Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 9 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 10 Andean Condor Vultur gryphus R Sharp-shinned Hawk (Plain- 11 breasted Hawk) Accipiter striatus U 12 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus 13 Black-and-chestnut Eagle Spizaetus isidori 14 Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus 15 Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris 16 White-rumped Hawk Parabuteo leucorrhous 17 Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus U 18 White-throated Hawk Buteo albigula R 19 Variable Hawk Geranoaetus polyosoma U 20 Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens VR 21 Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis gayi 22 Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda R 23 Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii VR 24 Andean Snipe Gallinago jamesoni FC 25 Imperial Snipe Gallinago imperialis U 26 Noble Snipe Gallinago nobilis 27 Jameson's Snipe Gallinago jamesoni 28 Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 29 Band-tailed Pigeon Patagoienas fasciata FC 30 Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea 31 Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina 32 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi R 33 White-throated Quail-Dove Zentrygon frenata U 34 Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata U 35 Barn Owl Tyto alba 36 White-throated Screech-Owl Megascops
    [Show full text]
  • Birding Madagascar 1-22 November 2018
    Birding Madagascar 1-22 November 2018. Trip report compiled by Tomas Carlberg. 1 Front cover Daily log Red-capped Coua, sunbathing in Ankarafantsika National Park. Photo: Tomas Carlberg November 1st Some of us (TC, JN, and RN) flew Air France from Photos Arlanda, Stockholm at 06:00 to Paris, where we © All photos in this report: Tomas Carlberg. met OP (who flew from Gothenburg) and IF (flew For additional photos, see p. 30 ff. from Manchester). An 11 hrs flight took us to Antananarivo, where we landed just before Participants midnight. Once through after visa and passport control we met Zina at the airport. We stayed at IC Tomas Carlberg (Tour leader), Jonas Nordin, Hotel and fell asleep at 01:30. Sweden; Rolf Nordin, Sweden; Olof Persson, Sweden; Jesper Hornskov, Denmark; Eric November 2nd Schaumburg, Denmark; Hans Harrestrup Andersen, Woke up at 6, met the Danes (JH, ES, HW, and Denmark; Hans Wulffsberg, Denmark; Ian Fryer, UK HHA), and had breakfast. Changed c. 400 Euro each Serge “Zina” Raheritsiferana (organizer and driver), and got 1 540 000 ariary… Departure at 7:30 Fidson “Fidy” Albert Alberto (guide), and Lala. heading north towards Ankarafantsika NP. Saw a male Malagasy Harrier c. 16 km south of Ankazobe Correspondence (-18.45915, 47.160156), so stopped for birding [email protected] (Tomas Carlberg) there 9:45-10:05. Stop at 11:40 to buy sandwiches for lunch. Lunch with birding 12:55-13:15. Long Tour organizers transport today… Stopped for birding at bridge Serge “Zina” Raheritsiferana (Zina-Go Travel), over Betsiboka River 16:30-17:30; highlight here Stig Holmstedt.
    [Show full text]
  • Avian Nesting and Roosting on Glaciers at High Elevation, Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru
    The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130(4):940–957, 2018 Avian nesting and roosting on glaciers at high elevation, Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru Spencer P. Hardy,1,4* Douglas R. Hardy,2 and Koky Castaneda˜ Gil3 ABSTRACT—Other than penguins, only one bird species—the White-winged Diuca Finch (Idiopsar speculifera)—is known to nest directly on ice. Here we provide new details on this unique behavior, as well as the first description of a White- fronted Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola albifrons) nest, from the Quelccaya Ice Cap, in the Cordillera Vilcanota of Peru. Since 2005, .50 old White-winged Diuca Finch nests have been found. The first 2 active nests were found in April 2014; 9 were found in April 2016, 1 of which was filmed for 10 d during the 2016 nestling period. Video of the nest revealed infrequent feedings (.1 h between visits), slow nestling development (estimated 20–30 d), and feeding via regurgitation. The first and only active White-fronted Ground-Tyrant nest was found in October 2014, beneath the glacier in the same area. Three other unoccupied White-fronted Ground-Tyrant nests and an eggshell have been found since, all on glacier ice. At Quelccaya, we also observed multiple species roosting in crevasses or voids (caves) beneath the glacier, at elevations between 5,200 m and 5,500 m, including both White-winged Diuca Finch and White-fronted Ground-Tyrant, as well as Plumbeous Sierra Finch (Phrygilus unicolor), Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis gayi), and Gray-breasted Seedsnipe (Thinocorus orbignyianus). These nesting and roosting behaviors are all likely adaptations to the harsh environment, as the glacier provides a microclimate protected from precipitation, wind, daily mean temperatures below freezing, and strong solar irradiance (including UV-B and UV-A).
    [Show full text]
  • Argentina & Chile
    Argentina & Chile Southern Patagonia & Torres del Paine 3rd December to 13th December 2022 (11 days) Magellanic Plover by Rich Lindie Our tour through Argentina’s Southern Patagonia takes us on an amazing adventure through the southern portion of this incredible continent in search of the unique Magellanic Plover at Laguna Nímez, the rare White-bellied Seedsnipe on the wide-open grassy plains of northern Tierra del Fuego, and the charismatic Magellanic Woodpecker. Our journey begins in Los Glaciares National Park, famous in birding circles for its population of the impressive Andean Condors, uncommon Bronze-winged Duck, Chilean Flicker and the strange Rufous-tailed Plantcutter. Crossing the border into Chile, we spend a few days at possibly the most scenically impressive site on a tour of grand vistas - Torres del Paine. Aside from being a staggeringly spectacular stretch of mountains - quite possibly the most attractive scenery of all the Andes - Torres del Paine National Park also happens to be one of the best places in the world to see the mighty Puma. Next, we travel to the Punta Arenas, exploring the most southern continental locations for RBL Argentina - Southern Patagonia Itinerary 2 their plethora of rare and endemic species, both by road and ferry. As the tour draws to a close, we will be searching for birds in the dramatic and fabled landscapes of Tierra del Fuego. Here a visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park could produce Austral Pygmy Owl, White-throated Treerunner and the fantastic Magellanic Woodpecker. In the Beagle Channel, we hope for Magellanic Diving Petrel, Fuegian Steamer Duck and White-throated Caracara, while in the Rio Grande area we search for the rare White-bellied Seedsnipe.
    [Show full text]
  • Bolivia: Endemic Macaws & More!
    BOLIVIA: ENDEMIC MACAWS & MORE! PART II: FOOTHILLS, CLOUDFORESTS & THE ALTIPLANO SEPTEMBER 28–OCTOBER 8, 2018 Male Versicolored Barbet – Photo Andrew Whittaker LEADERS: ANDREW WHITTAKER & JULIAN VIDOZ LIST COMPILED BY: ANDREW WHITTAKER VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM Bolivia continued to exceed expectations on Part 2 of our tour! Steadily climbing up into the mighty ceiling of South America that is the Andes, we enjoyed exploring many more new, different, and exciting unspoiled bird-rich habitats, including magical Yungas cloudforest stretching as far as the eye could see; dry and humid Puna; towering snow-capped Andean peaks; vast stretches of Altiplano with its magical brackish lakes filled with immense numbers of glimmering flamingoes, and one of my favorite spots, the magnificent and famous Lake Titicaca (with its own flightless grebe). An overdose of stunning Andean scenery combined with marvelous shows of flowering plants enhanced our explorations of a never-ending array of different and exciting microhabitats for so many special and interesting Andean birds. We were rewarded with a fabulous trip record total of 341 bird species! Combining our two exciting Bolivia tours (Parts 1 and 2) gave us an all-time VENT record, an incredible grand total of 656 different bird species and 15 mammals! A wondrous mirage of glimmering pink hues of all three species of flamingos on the picturesque Bolivian Altiplano – Photo Andrew Whittaker Stunning Andes of Bolivia near Soroto on a clear day of our 2016 trip – Photo Andrew Whittaker Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Bolivia Part 2, 2018 We began this second part of our Bolivian bird bonanza in the bustling city of Cochabamba, spending a fantastic afternoon birding the city’s rich lakeside in lovely late afternoon sun.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Material
    Pterocles alchata (Pin-tailed Sandgrouse) European Red List of Birds Supplementary Material The European Union (EU27) Red List assessments were based principally on the official data reported by EU Member States to the European Commission under Article 12 of the Birds Directive in 2013-14. For the European Red List assessments, similar data were sourced from BirdLife Partners and other collaborating experts in other European countries and territories. For more information, see BirdLife International (2015). Contents Reported national population sizes and trends p. 2 Trend maps of reported national population data p. 3 Sources of reported national population data p. 5 Species factsheet bibliography p. 6 Recommended citation BirdLife International (2015) European Red List of Birds. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Further information http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/euroredlist http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/european-red-list-birds-0 http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/europe http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/ Data requests and feedback To request access to these data in electronic format, provide new information, correct any errors or provide feedback, please email [email protected]. THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ BirdLife International (2015) European Red List of Birds Pterocles alchata (Pin-tailed Sandgrouse) Table 1. Reported national breeding population size and trends in Europe1. Country (or Population estimate Short-term
    [Show full text]
  • Trip Report BA048 Madagascar Nov2016.Pages
    ! Birding Africa Madagascar Tour 14 November - 5 December 2016 Tour Report by leader Michael Mills Photos by participants Don MacGillivray & Martin Painter (Helmet Vanga) www.birdingafrica.com Our comprehensive 2016 Madagascar Tour once again showcased Madagascar’s best birds and wildlife in just 16 days, with an optional five days spent at Masoala at the end. We enjoyed excellent views of all available endemic birds, making it our most successful tour of Madagascar to date. Among the 190 species logged were all five species of Ground Roller, all three Mesites, all species of Vanga, all ten Couas and all four Asity species. The most enjoyed birds of the trip were Rufous-headed Vanga and Crossley’s Vanga in tie ninth, Pitta-like Ground Roller and Giant Coua in tie seventh, Short-legged Ground Roller in sixth, Scaly Ground Roller in fifth, White-breasted Mesite in fourth, Long-tailed Ground Roller in third, and Velvet Asity in second, and the peerless Helmet Vanga took our top honours! We also recorded 25 lemur species and lots of other great critters. Deservedly called the eighth continent, Madagascar is simply one of the most unusual and spectacular wildlife destinations on the globe. With more than 120 bird endemics and several endemic bird families, plus all the unique mammals and habitats, we met up at our comfortable base hotel in Antananarivo, exhilarated at what the coming weeks held for us. A short stint of birding in the hotel gardens with Madagascar Nightjar on its day roost tickled our taste buds before we enjoyed our first of many scrumptious meals together.
    [Show full text]
  • Transport of Water by Adult Sandgrouse to Their Young Tom J
    THE CONDOR VOLUME69 JULY-AUGUST,1967 NUMBER4 TRANSPORT OF WATER BY ADULT SANDGROUSE TO THEIR YOUNG TOM J. CADE and GORDONL. MACLEAN In 1896 the English aviculturist Meade-Waldo published an astonishing and seemingly incredible account of how the males of sandgrouse that he successfully bred in captivity carried water to their young in their breast feathers. To quote from his original report: As soon as the young were out of the nest (when twelve hours old) a very curious habit developed itself in the male. He would rub his breast violently up and down on the ground, a motion quite distinct from dusting, and when all awry he would get into his drinking water and saturate the feathers of the under parts. When soaked he would go through the motions of flying away, nodding his head, etc. Then, remembering his family were close by, would run up to the hen, make a demonstration, when the young would run out, get under him, and suckthe water from his breast. This is no doubt the way that water is conveyed to the young when far out on waterless plains. The young . are very independent, eating hard seed and weeds from the first, and roosting independently of their parents at ten days old (Meade-Waldo, 1896). See also Meade- Waldo (1921). Despite the fact that .Meade-Waldo (1897 ; 1921) observed 61 broods from three different species of sandgrouse hatched in his aviaries between 189.5 and l915, and soon received confirmation from another breeder for two species (St. Quintin, 1905), and despite the fact that field naturalists and native hunters have frequently observed wild male sandgrouse wetting their breast feathers at water holes in the way described (Meade-Waldo, 1906; Buxton, 1923; Heim de Balsac, 1936; Hoesch, 1955), the idea that the young do receive water in this exceptional way has met with a great deal of scepticism (Archer and Godman, 1937; Meinertzhagen, 1954, 1964; Hiie and Etchkcopar, 1957; Schmidt-Nielsen, 1964).
    [Show full text]
  • Madagascar Highlights II 14Th to 28Th October 2017 (15 Days) Trip Report
    Madagascar Highlights II 14th to 28th October 2017 (15 days) Trip Report Pitta-like Ground Roller by Rich Vial Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn Rockjumper Birding Tours | Madagascar www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL Madagascar - Highlights II 2017 2 Tour Summary Our group met in the bustling national capital of Antananarivo (Tana) the evening before the tour began, where we settled into our very pleasant accommodations and watched a couple of Madagascan Nightjars hovering overhead at dusk before we enjoyed our first of many meals together. We had a relaxed start to the first day with a leisurely breakfast and quiet stroll around the grounds of our hotel. A reasonably good number of endemics were already ticked off right around our hotel: Olive Bee-eater, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Malagasy White-eye, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Madagascan Stonechat (building a nest), Souimanga Sunbird, Red Fody, Madagascan Mannikin, and Madagascan Wagtail – a great introduction. We then enjoyed lunch and boarded our bus to head down to the city’s prime birding site – Lake Alarobia. It was a Sunday, so traffic was very light and we made it there quickly to be met with an astounding quantity of Meller’s Duck by Rich Vial birds. Red-billed Teals and White-faced Whistling Ducks covered the two water bodies, along with a handful of Hottentot Teal and at least three impressive Knob-billed Ducks. Even better was the great showing of Meller’s Duck – an endangered endemic that is now thriving on the lake with a minimum of 19 individuals present! The lake is also swarming with herons, with throngs of Black-crowned Night Herons and Western Cattle Egret on the fringes.
    [Show full text]
  • Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Abundance and Breeding Activity of Namaqua Sandgrouse in South Africa
    162 S.-Afr.Tydskr.Dierk.1994.29(2) Temporal and spatial patterns of abundance and breeding activity of Namaqua sandgrouse in South Africa G. Malan, R.M. Little' and T.M. Crowe FitzPatrick I nstitute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700 Republic of South Africa Received 15 Novemher 1993; accepted 25 January 1994 We examined various measures of temporal and spatial patterns of abundance and breeding activity of Namaqua sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua (presumably mostly for P. n. furvus) in South Africa. Bird-atlas maps indicating reporting-rates and extensive-counts showed that the majority of Namaqua sandgrouse concentrate in Bushmanland, in the north-western Cape Province, from December to March. From April to July the sandgrouse move north and east of Bushmanland and apparently return to Bushmanland from August to November. This west-east movement occurs at a relatively constant rate of 30-50 km per month. Only 15% of the sandgrouse ringed at an estate within the eastern part of this species range returned the following winter. Follicle diameter and brood'patch measurements increased significantly from July to August, at the time when the majority of birds leave the estate. Belly-soaking was more prevalent in early summer in Bushmanland than in any season in the east. South African populations of Namaqua sandgrouse are partial migrants which breed primarily in early summer (October - November) in Bushmanland. Temporale en ruimtelike patrone in verspreiding en broei aktiwiteite van die Namaqua sandpatrys Pterocles namaqua (vermoedelik meestal P. n. furvus) IS ondersoek in Suid Afrika. Die voelatlaskaarte wat rapporteer­ skale en ekstensiewe·tellings wys, het aangedui dat van Desember tot Maart die meerderheid sandpatryse gekonsentreer is in Boesmanland.
    [Show full text]