Opalton grasswren

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Opalton grasswren
Rusty Grasswren imported from iNaturalist photo 67720594 on 27 February 2024.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Maluridae
Genus: Amytornis
Species:
A. rowleyi
Binomial name
Amytornis rowleyi
Schodde & Mason, IJ, 1999

The Opalton grasswren (Amytornis rowleyi) is an insectivorous bird in the family Maluridae. It is found in the Forsyth Range, Queensland, Australia. Formerly considered a sub-species of the striated grasswren (Amytornis striatus rowleyi), then known as the rusty grasswren. It is found around the opal mining area of Opalton and Lark Quarry south of Winton, Western Queensland. It was named as a full species by the I.O.C. in July 2020. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The Opalton grasswren was first described in 1999 as Artemis striatus rowleyi, a subspecies of the striated grasswren, based on specimens found near Opalton in 1970. [2] In 2013, it was proposed that it be promoted to a full species based on genetic data collected from the striated grasswren species complex. [3] In 2020, the International Ornithologists' Union officially listed the Opalton grasswren as its own species, with the binomial name Artemis rowleyi. [4] The Opalton grasswren has no subspecies. [5]

Description

The Opalton grasswren is the only grasswren in its range. It is a small bird with a reddish-brown back marked with black and white striations. It has white underparts and a black moustache. It is somewhat visually similar to the sandhill grasswren and striated grasswren. [5]

Conservation and status

The Opalton grasswren has not been official assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, although it is not believed to be at risk. [5] Some potential threats include habitat loss, introduced predators such as cats, and climate change, particularly in the form of wildfires. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Fisher, Lindsay (1 December 2020). "STORY OF THE OPALTON GRASSWREN". Birdlife North Queensland. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. ↑ Schodde, Richard (1999). The Directory of Australian Birds. Canberra: CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology. ISBN   0643064567.
  3. ↑ Christidis, Les; Rheindt, Frank; Boles, Walter; Norman, Janette (January 2013). "A re-appraisal of species diversity within the Australian grasswrens Amytornis (Aves: Maluridae)". Australian Zoologist. 36 (4): 429–437. doi:10.7882/AZ.2013.004.
  4. ↑ International Ornithological Congress (July 25, 2020). "IOC World Bird List" . Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Black, Andrew B. (4 April 2025). "Opalton Grasswren (Amytornis rowleyi)" . Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rusgra1.02 . Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  6. ↑ The State of Queensland. "Opalton grasswren | Featured species projects". www.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 19 June 2025.


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