Epimachus

Last updated

Epimachus
Epimachus meyeri -Papua New Guinea -male-8.jpg
Brown sicklebill, Epimachus meyeri
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paradisaeidae
Genus: Epimachus
Cuvier, 1816
Type species
Upupa magna [1] = Promerops fastuosus
Gmelin, 1788

Epimachus is a genus of birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) that includes two species, found in the highland forests of New Guinea. They are the largest members of the family. The common name "sicklebill" refers to their long, decurved, sickle-shaped bill. [2]

Contents

Sicklebills often associate with astrapias, which are superficially similar but have a short, straight bill and blunt-tipped tail, and the male's wings hiss in flight. [2]

The species in the genus Epimachus are often referred to as "long-tailed" sicklebills, when describing them collectively as a genus. The other sicklebills, genus Drepanornis , are referred to as the "short-tailed" sicklebills. Ironically, the two genera are not closely related. There may also be confusion with the birds of the same name that belong to the hummingbird family, found in the Americas.

Taxonomy

The genus Epimachus was introduced in 1816 by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier for the black sicklebill. [3] [4] The genus name is from the Ancient Greek επιμαχος (epimakhos) meaning "equipped for battle" (from makhomai "to fight"). [5]

In 1972, the genus was merged with the genus Drepanornis, [6] but separated again in 1998. [7] A phylogenetic study placed Epimachus in a clade that includes Paradigalla and Astrapia , implying that the long, curved bill has been acquired independently in Epimachus. According to the same study, the Drepanornis species are closely related to the Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise, Standardwing bird-of-paradise, superb birds-of-paradise, and the riflebirds. [8]

The two species of Drepanornis as well as the two species of Epimachus separated about 10 and 7 mya, respectively. [8] While the two species of Drepanornis occupy different elevations in low- and mid-montane forests, the two species of Epimachus are altitudinal replacements in mountain forests; these two cases could represent old cases of altitudinal speciation. [8]

Species

ImageCommon NameScientific nameDistribution
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140721 1 - Epimachus fastuosus fastuosus (Hermann, 1783) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg Black sicklebill Epimachus fastosusFound in the Vogelkop region, Wandammen peninsula, and central New Guinea at altitudes of 1500–2000 m.
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140737 1 - Epimachus meyeri meyeri Finsch, 1885 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg Brown sicklebill Epimachus meyeriFound across central New Guinea to the Bird's Tail region (Papuan Peninsula) to the southeast at altitudes from 2000 to 3000 m.

Description

Both species of Epimachus are sexually dimorphic. The males of these birds are highly eccentric, with hyperbolically long, saber-like, black tails that reach around 18 inches (46 cm) alone. They also feature two pectoral fan-like plumes on each side of the breast, [7] which they bring up over their heads during their displays.

There is extensive green/purple iridescent highlights found on the head and back of the adult male; [2] [7] additionally, blue gloss is present on the tail. The females of both species both have barred underparts, olive-brown upperparts and relatively long tails, though not as extensive as the males' tails.

Distribution and habitat

Sicklebills are endemic to New Guinea, sympathetically inhabiting areas of montane rainforest and cloud forest along the central mountainous axis of the island.

Brown sicklebills are more common, [9] inhabiting mid and upper-mountain forests, [10] including mossy cloud forest, above the elevations of other sicklebills. Black sicklebills are more rare and inhabit the transition from mid-mountain to cloud forest, occasionally forest edges. [2] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bird-of-paradise</span> Family of birds of the order Passeriformes

The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. The majority of species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. The family has 45 species in 17 genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of the species, the majority of which are sexually dimorphic. The males of these species tend to have very long, elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings, tail, or head. For the most part, they are confined to dense rainforest habitats. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent arthropods. The birds-of-paradise have a variety of breeding systems, ranging from monogamy to lek-type polygamy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arfak astrapia</span> Species of bird

The Arfak astrapia is a species of astrapia, a group of birds found in the birds-of-paradise family Paradiseidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ribbon-tailed astrapia</span> Species of bird

The ribbon-tailed astrapia, also known as Shaw Mayer's astrapia, is a species of bird-of-paradise.

<i>Astrapia</i> Genus of birds

Astrapia is a genus of birds-of-paradise. The genus contains five species, all endemic to New Guinea. The males have highly iridescent plumage and remarkably long tails. Females are duller and have shorter tails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black sicklebill</span> Species of bird

The black sicklebill is a large member of the birds of paradise family, Paradisaeidae. This species is found throughout most of central New Guinea and the Vogelkop region to the northwest in montane forests at altitudes from 1,800 to 2,150 m.

Carl Hunstein was a German ornithologist and plant collector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnificent bird-of-paradise</span> Species of bird

The magnificent bird-of-paradise is a species of bird-of-paradise. The magnificent bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are listed in Appendix II of CITES.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown sicklebill</span> Species of bird

The brown sicklebill is a species of bird-of-paradise that is found in the mountain forests of New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater lophorina</span> Species of bird

The greater lophorina, also known as superb bird-of-paradise or greater superb bird-of-paradise, is a species of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It was considered the sole species in the genus until in 2017 it was recognised that there were three species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huon astrapia</span> Species of bird

The Huon astrapia, also known as Rothschild's astrapia, Huon bird-of-paradise, or Lord Rothschild's bird-of-paradise, is a species of bird-of-paradise belonging to the genus Astrapia. Like most of its congeners, A. rothschildi is a rather elusive member of its genus and family.

<i>Drepanornis</i> Genus of birds

Drepanornis is a genus of bird-of-paradise found in forests of New Guinea. They have long decurved sickle-like bills and an overall brown plumage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie's astrapia</span> Species of bird

Stephanie's astrapia, also known as Princess Stephanie's astrapia, is a species of bird-of-paradise of the family Paradisaeidae, native to the Bird's Tail Peninsula. This species was first described by Carl Hunstein in 1884.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splendid astrapia</span> Species of bird

The Splendid astrapia is a species of Astrapia of the birds-of-paradise family, Paradisaeidae, and one of the least known and most elusive of its family and genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-billed sicklebill</span> Species of bird

The pale-billed sicklebill is a species of sicklebill that belongs to the family Paradisaeidae, which contains the birds-of-paradise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-billed sicklebill</span> Species of bird

The black-billed sicklebill, also known as the buff-tailed sicklebill, is a species of bird-of-paradise. It, along with its congener, are the only members of the genus Drepanornis.

Barnes's astrapia, also known as Barnes's long-tailed bird-of-paradise or Barnes's long-tail, is a bird in the family Paradisaeidae and the genus Astrapia that is a likely hybrid between Stephanie's astrapia and the ribbon-tailed astrapia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astrapian sicklebill</span> Hybrid bird

The astrapian sicklebill, also known as the green-breasted riflebird, is a bird in the Paradisaeidae family that is believed to be an intergeneric hybrid between an Arfak astrapia and black sicklebill. This explanation was proposed by Erwin Stresemann who used the same explanation for the Elliot's bird-of-paradise. The two forms are substantially different and the latter's validity is still under question.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliot's bird-of-paradise</span> Hybrid bird

Elliot's bird of paradise is a bird in the family Paradisaeidae, first described by Edward Ward in 1873. The bird is presumed by some ornithologists to be an intergeneric hybrid between a black sicklebill and Arfak astrapia. This assumption was made by the German ornithologist Erwin Stresemann who had also dismissed other new species of birds of paradise as hybrids. Other ornithologists dispute this claim. Errol Fuller argues that the Astrapia is a fanciful choice made with little supporting evidence, and that Elliot's Bird of Paradise is much smaller than the two proposed parent species. The specimens show a number of characteristics not present in either parent species, adding weight to the possibility of the specimens constituting a unique species. Stresemann had previously used the A. nigra x E. fastuosus explanation for the astrapian sicklebill as well.

The false-lobed astrapia, also known as the false-lobed long-tail, is a bird in the family Paradisaeidae that is a presumed intergeneric hybrid between a long-tailed paradigalla and black sicklebill. Another interpretation that has been put forward is that the only known specimen is an immature Elliot's bird-of-paradise.

References

  1. ↑ "Paradisaeidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pratt, Thane K. (26 October 2014). Birds of New Guinea. Beehler, Bruce McP,, Bishop, K. David,, Coates, Brian J.,, Diamond, Jared M.,, Lecroy, Mary,, Anderton, John (Second ed.). Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN   978-1-4008-6511-6. OCLC   894139572.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ↑ Cuvier, Georges (1817). Le Règne animal distribué d'après son organisation : pour servir de base a l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction a l'anatomie comparée (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: Déterville. p. 407. The volume has the year 1817 printed on the title page but was published in 1816. See: Dickinson, E.C.; Overstreet, L.K.; Dowsett, R.J.; Bruce, M.D. (2011). Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology: a Directory to the literature and its reviewers. Northampton, UK: Aves Press. p. 85. ISBN   978-0-9568611-1-5.
  4. ↑ Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1962). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 15. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 190.
  5. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 147. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  6. ↑ Diamon, Jared M. (1972). Avifauna of the eastern highlands of new guinea. [Place of publication not identified]: Harvard Univ Nuttall Orni. ISBN   1-877973-22-X. OCLC   948758073.
  7. 1 2 3 Frith, Clifford B.; Beehler, Bruce M. (1998). Birds of Paradise. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780198548539.
  8. 1 2 3 Irestedt, Martin; Jønsson, Knud A.; Fjeldså, Jon; Christidis, Les; Ericson, Per GP (2009-09-16). "An unexpectedly long history of sexual selection in birds-of-paradise". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 9 (1): 235. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-9-235 . ISSN   1471-2148. PMC   2755009 . PMID   19758445.
  9. ↑ Gregory, Phil (2020). Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 248. ISBN   9781472975843.
  10. ↑ "Black Sicklebill". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Black Sicklebill". The Australian Museum . 4 August 2019. ABN 85 407 224 698. Retrieved 21 September 2020.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.