Salpornis

Salpornis is a genus of bird which is usually included in the family Certhiidae. The genus has in the past been included with the nuthatches in the family Sittidae or placed in a family of its own, the Salpornithidae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses show them to be definitely within the Certhioidea but still leaves some uncertainty about their placement in relation to the genera Sitta, Tichodroma and Certhia. While they appear similar to the treecreepers (Certhia), they do not use their tails to support them while climbing and some molecular evidence shows them to be closer to the nuthatches (Sitta)[1] while another study suggests a closer relation to the wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria.[2] The generic name is derived from the Greek salpinktes for wren and ornis for bird.[3]

Heads and legs of Tichodroma and Salpornis

Salpornis
Indian spotted creeper (Salpornis spilonota)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Certhiidae
Genus: Salpornis
G.R. Gray, 1847
Species

S. spilonota
S. salvadori

The tail has twelve feathers and is rounded at the tips. The nostril is exposed and there are no rictal bristles. The tongue ends in five bristles.[4]

The genus has two species with the African species earlier considered as a subspecies. Differences in size, calls and mitochondrial DNA sequences have supported the splitting of the African and Indian populations.[2]

References
  1. Johansson, Ulf S.; Fjeldså, Jon; Bowie, Rauri C.K. (2008). "Phylogenetic relationships within Passerida (Aves: Passeriformes): A review and a new molecular phylogeny based on three nuclear intron markers" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 48 (3): 858–876. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.05.029. PMID 18619860.
  2. Tietze, Dieter Thomas; Martens, Jochen (2010). "Intraspecific differentiation in Spotted Creepers, Salpornis spilonotus (Aves:Passeriformes:Certhiidae)" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 60 (2): 163–170.
  3. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of scientific bird names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 346.
  4. Hellmayr, CE (1911). Wytsman, Philogene (ed.). Genera Avium. Passeres. Fam. Certhiidae. p. 9.
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