Nyctanassa

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Nyctanassa
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (7345190292).jpg
Yellow-crowned night heron (N. violacea)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Subfamily: Ardeinae
Genus: Nyctanassa
Stejneger, 1887
Species

N. carcinocatactes (extinct)
N. violacea

Nyctanassa is a genus of night herons from the Americas, especially (but not exclusively) warmer coastal regions. They were formerly included in the genus Nycticorax , but today all major authorities recognize them as different.

The name comes from Ancient Greek words for "night" and "lady" or "queen", referring to the yellow-crowned night heron's nocturnal activity and its beauty.

Species

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Nyctanassa carcinocatactes.jpg Nyctanassa carcinocatactes (extinct) Bermuda night heron Bermuda.
Yellow crowned night heron Florida 2010.JPG Nyctanassa violacea Yellow-crowned night heron south Florida, the Gulf Coast (Louisiana to Alabama), and the eastern Texas coast; Mexico, Central America, Galápagos - Ecuador, the Caribbean and northern South America (south to Peru and Brazil in coastal regions)

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References