Thesmooth-billed ani(Crotophaga ani) is abirdin thecuckoofamily. It is a resident breeding species from southernFlorida,theCaribbean,parts ofCentral America,south to westernEcuador,Brazil,northernArgentinaand southernChile.[2]It was introduced to Galápagos around the 1960s and is potentially impacting native and endemic species across the archipelago.[3]
| Smooth-billed ani | |
|---|---|
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| inGrand Cayman | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Cuculiformes |
| Family: | Cuculidae |
| Genus: | Crotophaga |
| Species: | C. ani
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| Binomial name | |
| Crotophaga ani | |
| |
Taxonomy
editThe smooth-billed ani was described and illustrated in 1648 by the German naturalistGeorg Marcgravein hisHistoria Naturalis Brasiliae.[4]He used the name "Ani" but did not explain the origin of the word. It probably comes from the wordAnimin theTupi languagewhich means "social bird".[5]In 1756 the Irish physicianPatrick Browneused the nameCrotophagafor the species in hisThe Civil and Natural History of Jamaica.[6]Browne's name combines theAncient Greekkrotōnmeaning "tick" with-phagosmeaning "-eating".[7]Browne wrote that the smooth-billed anis "live chiefly upon ticks and other small vermin; and may be frequently seen jumping about all cows and oxen in the fields".[6]When the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeusupdated hisSystema Naturaefor thetenth editionin 1758 he included the smooth-billed ani. He placed it in its own genusCrotophagaand coined thebinomial nameCrotophaga ani.[8]Thetype localityis Jamaica.[9]The species ismonotypic:nosubspeciesare recognised.[10]
Description
editThe smooth-billed ani is a mid-sized species, larger on average than thegroove-billed anibut smaller than thegreater ani.It measures approximately 35 cm (14 in) in overall length. Males weigh around 115 g (4.1 oz) while females are lighter and with a weight of around 95 g (3.4 oz). The adult is mainly glossy black, with a long tail, deep ridged black bill and a brown iris.[11]The flight is weak and wobbly, but the birdrunswell and usually feeds on the ground. This species is called "el pijul" in Venezuelan folklore.[citation needed]The calls include a whiningooo-leeek.
Distribution and habitat
editThisaniis found in open and semi-open country and areas under cultivation. This common and conspicuous species has greatly benefited fromdeforestation.
Behaviour
editThis is a very gregarious species, always found in noisy groups.
Breeding
editThe nest, built communally by several pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually 2–6 m (6.6–19.7 ft) high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky blueeggsin thenestand then share incubation and feeding. Each female is capable of laying up to seven eggs, and nests have been found containing up to 29 eggs, but it is rare for more than ten to hatch. Incubation is 13–15 days, with another 10 days to fledging. Up to three broods may be raised in a season, with the young of earlier broods helping to feed more recent chicks.
Food and feeding
editThe smooth-billed ani feeds ontermites,largeinsects,otherinvertebrates[12]and evenlizards,frogs,eggsandhatchlingsof other birds, andfruit.[12]They will occasionally removeticksand other parasites from grazing animals.
Conservation status
editThe smooth-billed ani is consideredLeast Concernaccording to theIUCN Red List.Declines in the South Florida population were recorded as the state delayed its protection decision for the species.[13]
Gallery
edit-
Egg, CollectionMuseum Wiesbaden -
InTobago -
InJamaica -
InDominica -
InColombia
References
edit- ^BirdLife International (2020)."Crotophaga ani".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2020:e.T22684434A168903230.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22684434A168903230.en.Retrieved12 November2021.
- ^"Maracaballos de pico liso - AVES DE CHILE".www.avesdechile.cl.Retrieved2020-08-17.
- ^Cooke, Sophia C.; Haskell, Lucy E.; van Rees, Charles B.; Fessl, Birgit (January 2019)."A review of the introduced smooth-billed aniCrotophaga aniin Galápagos ".Biological Conservation.229:38–49.Bibcode:2019BCons.229...38C.doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.11.005.
- ^Marcgrave, Georg(1648).Historia Naturalis Brasiliae: Liber Quintus: Qui agit de Avibus(in Latin). Lugdun and Batavorum (London and Leiden): Franciscum Hackium and Elzevirium. p. 193.
- ^Jobling 2010,p. 48.
- ^abBrowne, Patrick(1756).The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica.London: Printed for the author, and sold by T. Osborne and J. Shipton. p. 474.
- ^Jobling 2010,p. 123.
- ^Linnaeus, Carl(1758).Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis(in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 105.
- ^Peters, James Lee,ed. (1940).Check-List of Birds of the World.Vol. 4. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 57.
- ^Gill, Frank;Donsker, David;Rasmussen, Pamela,eds. (January 2022)."Turacos, bustards, cuckoos, mesites, sandgrouse".IOC World Bird List Version 12.1.International Ornithologists' Union.Retrieved7 August2022.
- ^Payne, R.B. (1997)."Smooth-billed ani".In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.).Handbook of the Birds of the World.Vol. 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. p. 602.ISBN978-84-87334-22-1.
- ^ab"Crotophaga ani (Smooth-billed Ani)"(PDF).Sta.uwi.edu.Retrieved27 March2022.
- ^David Fleshler (25 September 2015)."Rare bird declines in South Florida as state delays protection decision".Sun Sentinel.
Sources
edit- Jobling, James A. (2010).The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names.London: Christopher Helm.ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.