Socotra starling

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Socotra starling
Socotran Starling (f)..jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Onychognathus
Species:
O. frater
Binomial name
Onychognathus frater

The Socotra starling (Onychognathus frater) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Socotra island, [2] which is off the southeast coast of Yemen.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and rural gardens.

The Socotra starling builds its nests in the hollow branches of Socotra's dragon blood tree [3] (Dracaena cinnabari). In addition to feeding on grasshoppers and figs, [2] the bird also eats the berries of the dragon blood tree and helps disperse the tree's seeds. [4]

Related Research Articles

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Socotra or Saqatri is an island of the Republic of Yemen in the Indian Ocean. Lying between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea and near major shipping routes, Socotra is the largest of the four islands in the Socotra archipelago. Since 2013, the archipelago has constituted the Socotra Governorate.

<i>Dracaena</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Dracaena is a genus of about 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs. The formerly accepted genera Pleomele and Sansevieria are now included in Dracaena. In the APG IV classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. It has also formerly been separated into the family Dracaenaceae or placed in the Agavaceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragon's blood</span> Bright red plant-based resin

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<i>Zygocarpum caeruleum</i> Species of plant

Zygocarpum caeruleum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found only in Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

<i>Hypericum tortuosum</i> Species of plant

Hypericum tortuosum is a species of flowering plant in the genus Hypericum. It is found only in Socotra, Yemen, where it is endemic. The species is an apomorphic relative of the other Socotran species in Hypericum sect. Triadenioides and is most closely related to Hypericum scopulorum. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali starling</span> Species of bird

The Somali starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-margined antwren</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socotra warbler</span> Species of bird

The Socotra warbler is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is monotypic within the genus Incana. It is endemic to Socotra. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The Gambaga flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panama flycatcher</span> Species of bird

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<i>Boswellia socotrana</i> Species of flowering plant

Boswellia socotrana is a species of plant in the Burseraceae family. It is endemic to Socotra, Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

<i>Euphorbia arbuscula</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia arbuscula is a species of plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It is endemic to the archipelago of Socotra in Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Kohautia socotrana is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to Socotra island of Yemen, off the coast of Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Meineckia filipes is a species of plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the Socotra Islands in the Indian Ocean, part of the Republic of Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Secamone socotrana is a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to the Socotra Islands in the Republic of Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socotra Island xeric shrublands</span>

The Socotra Island xeric shrublands is a terrestrial ecoregion that covers the large island of Socotra and several smaller islands that constitute the Socotra Archipelago. The archipelago is in the western Indian Ocean, east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. Politically the archipelago is part of Yemen, and lies south of the Yemeni mainland.

<i>Dracaena cinnabari</i> Species of plant

Dracaena cinnabari, the Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree, is a dragon tree native to the Socotra archipelago, part of Yemen, located in the Arabian Sea. It is named after the blood-like color of the red sap that the trees produce. It is considered the national tree of Yemen.

The wildlife of Yemen is substantial and varied. Yemen is a large country in the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula with several geographic regions, each with a diversity of plants and animals adapted to their own particular habitats. As well as high mountains and deserts, there is a coastal plain and long coastline. The country has links with Europe and Asia, and the continent of Africa is close at hand. The flora and fauna have influences from all these regions and the country also serves as a staging post for migratory birds.

<i>Dracaena tamaranae</i> Species of plant

Dracaena tamaranae, or drago de Gran Canaria, is a species of flowering plant endemic to the island of Gran Canaria, related to the dragon tree, Dracaena draco, and other species of Dracaena from East Africa. Since 1972, specimens of dragon tree have been identified in Gran Canaria with certain peculiarities. These were initially identified as specimens of Dracaena draco. However, a more detailed study concluded that it corresponded to a new species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diksam Plateau</span> Plateau in Socotra, Yemen

The Diksam Plateau or Dixam Plateau is a limestone plateau in Socotra, Yemen. The Firmihin forest, located east of the Dirhur canyon within the plateau, has the highest concentration of Dragon's Blood Trees on the entire island.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2017). "Onychognathus frater". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T22710619A111063411. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22710619A111063411.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Ripley, S. Dillon; Bond, Gorman M. (1966). "The birds of Socotra and Abd-el-Kuri". Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 151 (7). ISSN   0096-8749.
  3. Porter, R. F.; Suleiman, A. S. (2016). "The important bird and biodiversity areas of the socotra archipelago, Yemen". Sandgrouse. 38: 169–191.
  4. Adolt, Radim; Pavlis, Jindrich (1 January 2004). "Age structure and growth of Dracaena cinnabari populations on Socotra". Trees. 18 (1): 43–53. doi:10.1007/s00468-003-0279-6. ISSN   1432-2285. S2CID   11360224.