Seram masked owl
The Seram masked owl (Tyto almae) is an owl species in the family Tytonidae endemic to Seram Island in Indonesia. After being first brought to the attention of the world from a photograph taken during an expedition by Rudi Badil and Sukianto Lusli in the Manusela National Park in Seram in 1987 the holotype was mist-netted on 10 February 2012 and this species was formally described in 2013. The species' epithet commemorates Alma Jønsson, the daughter of Knud Andreas Jønsson, one of the describers of the Seram masked owl.
| Seram masked owl | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Tytonidae |
| Genus: | Tyto |
| Species: | T. almae |
| Binomial name | |
| Tyto almae Jønsson et al., 2013 | |
Description
Measurements are only available for the holotype whose body length was 31 cm, and weighed 540 g. The upperparts including the most upperwing coverts are covered densely and irregularly with fuscous spots. The background is ochre-buff to orange-buff.
Status and conservation
Though no population data are available the Seram masked owl might be threatened by habitat loss. Therefore, the protection of the Manusela National Park is highly important for the long-term conservation of this species.
References
- Knud Andreas Jønsson; Michael Køie Poulsen; Tri Haryoko; Andrew Hart Reeve & Pierre-Henri Fabre (2013). "A new species of masked-owl (Aves: Strigiformes: Tytonidae) from Seram, Indonesia". Zootaxa. 3635 (1): 51–61. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3635.1.5. PMID 26097930.