Momotus
| Momotus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Trinidad motmot(Momotus bahamensis) | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Momotidae |
| Genus: | Momotus Brisson,1760 |
| Type species | |
| Ramphastos momota Linnaeus,1766
| |
| Species | |
|
see text | |
Momotusis a smallgenusof themotmots,afamilyofnear passerinebirdsfound in forest and woodland of theNeotropics.They have a colourfulplumage,which is green on the back becoming blue on theflight feathersand the long tails. The barbs near the ends of the two longest central tail feathers fall off, leaving a length of bare shaft so that tails appearracket-shaped.
Momotusspecies, like other motmots, eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also take fruit. They nest in tunnels in banks, laying about four white eggs.
ThegenusMomotuswas introduced by the French zoologistMathurin Jacques Brissonin 1760 with theAmazonian motmot(Momotus momota) as thetype species.[1][2]
Species
[edit]The species complex, the blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota), has been split into several species.[3][4]The genus now contains seven species:[3]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Momotus mexicanus | Russet-crowned motmot | Guatemala and Mexico |
 |
Momotus momota | Amazonian motmot | eastern Venezuela to north-eastern Argentina |
 |
Momotus coeruliceps | Blue-capped motmot | eastern Mexico |
 |
Momotus aequatorialis | Andean motmot | northern Colombia to western Bolivia |
 |
Momotus bahamensis | Trinidad motmot | Trinidad and Tobago |
 |
Momotus lessonii | Lesson's motmot | southern Mexico to western Panama |
 |
Momotus subrufescens | Whooping motmot | southern Panama to northwestern Peru |
References
[edit]- ^Brisson, Mathurin Jacques(1760).Ornithologie, ou, Méthode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux en Ordres, Sections, Genres, Especes & leurs Variétés(in French and Latin). Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche.Vol. 1, p. 44,Vol. 4, p. 465.
- ^Peters, James Lee,ed. (1945).Check-list of Birds of the World.Vol. 5. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 225.
- ^abGill, Frank;Donsker, David, eds. (2019)."Todies, motmots, bee-eaters, hoopoes, wood hoopoes, hornbills".World Bird List Version 9.1.International Ornithologists' Union.Retrieved3 April2019.
- ^Stiles, F.G. (2009)."A review of the genusMomotus(Coraciiformes: Momotidae) in northern South America and adjacent areas ".Ornitología Colombiana.8:29–75.
Further reading
[edit]- Birds of Venezuelaby Hilty,ISBN0-7136-6418-5
- A guide to the birds of Costa Ricaby Stiles and SkutchISBN0-8014-9600-4
