Urocolius
| Urocolius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Blue-naped mousebird Urocolius macrourus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coliiformes |
| Family: | Coliidae |
| Genus: | Urocolius Bonaparte, 1854 |
| Species | |
Urocolius is a small genus of mousebirds.
Species
It consists of two species which inhabit Eastern and Southern Africa:
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-naped mousebird | Urocolius macrourus | East Africa |
.jpg.webp) | Red-faced mousebird | Urocolius indicus | southern Africa from Zaire, Zambia and Tanzania south to the Cape. |
Description
They are typically about 32 cm (13 in) long omnivorous birds, eating insects, small millipedes and plant material. Urocolius indicus in particular eats a great deal of fruit, leaves, buds, flowers, nectar and similar material.[1]
"Urocolius" archiaci, "U." consobrinus and "U." paludicola are 3 taxa described from fragmentary Early Miocene remains found at Saint-Gérand-le-Puy in France. Their taxonomic history is convoluted, being initially described as woodpeckers and variously merged and split. Today it is believed that at least 2 belong to the prehistoric genus Limnatornis. They sometimes are all united under the first of the 3 names although it is not clear with what justification. The same rationales presumably apply for undescribed but similar remains found in Late Miocene strata at Kohfidisch (Austria).[2]
References
- Maclean, Gordon Lindsay. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa Publisher: New Holland 1993. ISBN 978-0620175838
- Mlíkovský, Jirí (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe. Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 PDF fulltext