The Madagascar scops owl (Otus rutilus), also known as the Malagasy scops owl or Rainforest scops owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found throughout Madagascar, now that it has recently been lumped with the Torotoroka scops owl (O. r. madagascariensis), with which it was long considered a separate species from. The nominate O. r. rutilus is referred to as Rainforest scops owl.
The Madagascar scops owl is a relatively small owl with short, rounded wings and short erectile ear-tufts on top of the head. There are three morphs recorded of this species: a grey-plumaged morph, a brown-plumaged morph and a rufous-plumaged morph. Features which stand out from the main plumage color are the pale eyebrows, light spots on the scapulars and the barring on the wings and outer tail feathers. Sometimes the crown and the underparts are streaked. The bill has a black tip and may be dull green through to yellowish-grey and the eyes are yellow. They measure 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) in length and have a wingspan of 52–54 cm (20–21 in).[3]
Voiceedit
The typical song of the Madagascar scops owl is a series of between five and nine short, reverberating, clear hoots which can be rendered as "pu-pu-pu-pu-pu". These are repeated at intervals of several seconds.[4]
Distribution and habitatedit
The Madagascar scops owl is endemic to Madagascar where it is found throughout the island. As its common name "Rainforest" suggests, the nominate subspecies O. r. rutilus prefer humid tropical forest and bush and occurs in the east of the island, whereas the Torotoroka subspecies, O. r. madagascariensis, prefers drier habitats and occurs in the west of the island.[5]
Behaviouredit
The Madagascar scops owl feeds on invertebrates, such as grasshoppers, beetles, moths and spiders, as well as taking small vertebrates. It hunts mostly at night from a perch but will also catch moths on the wing.[3][4] It roosts during the day, hidden in dense foliage, on a branch or next to the tree trunk. Little is known about the breeding biology of this species. The nest is in a tree hollow and 3 or 4 white eggs are laid, probably in November and December.[4]
Taxonomyedit
The rainforest scops owl, the Mayotte scops owl (Otus mayottensis), the Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis) and the torotoroka scops owl (Otus madagascarensis) have all previously been lumped as one species. The taxonomy is in a state of flux but recent genetic studies have placed the Pemba scops owl closer to the clade containing the African scops owl (Otus sengalensis), while the Mayotte scops owl is clearly separate from the remaining two. The status of the rainforestdebatable as there is very little genetic distance between the two taxa[6][7] and subsequent studies have suggested that the plumage differences between O. rutilus and O. madagascariensis are small and that their voices intergrade.[8] Therefore the rainforest and Torotoroka scops owls become subspecies under the new name Madagascar scops owl, taking the scientific name Otus rutilus.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Otus rutilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22735960A95122449. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22735960A95122449.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Fuchs, Jérôme; et al. (2008). "Tracing the colonization history of the Indian Ocean scops-owls (Strigiformes: Otus) with further insight into the spatio-temporal origin of the Malagasy avifauna". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 8: 197. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-8-197. PMC2483963. PMID 18611281.
^Fuchs, Jérôme; Pons, Jean-Marc; Pasquet, Eric; Raherilalao, Marie Jeanne; Goodman, Steven M. (2007). "Geographical Structure of Genetic Variation in the Malagasy scops-owl inferred from Mitochondrial Sequence Data (abstract)". Condor. 109 (2): 408–418. doi:10.1650/0010-5422(2007)109[408:gsogvi]2.0.co;2.
^"Madagascar Scops-owl (Otus rutilus)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
April 15, 2024
rainforest, scops, madagascar, scops, otus, rutilus, also, known, malagasy, scops, species, family, strigidae, found, throughout, madagascar, that, recently, been, lumped, with, torotoroka, scops, madagascariensis, with, which, long, considered, separate, spec. The Madagascar scops owl Otus rutilus also known as the Malagasy scops owl or Rainforest scops owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae It is found throughout Madagascar now that it has recently been lumped with the Torotoroka scops owl O r madagascariensis with which it was long considered a separate species from The nominate O r rutilus is referred to as Rainforest scops owl Madagascar Scops OwlKirindy Forest MadagascarJuvenile at Andasibe MadagascarConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder StrigiformesFamily StrigidaeGenus OtusSpecies O rutilusBinomial nameOtus rutilus Pucheran 1849 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Voice 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behaviour 4 Taxonomy 5 ReferencesDescription editThe Madagascar scops owl is a relatively small owl with short rounded wings and short erectile ear tufts on top of the head There are three morphs recorded of this species a grey plumaged morph a brown plumaged morph and a rufous plumaged morph Features which stand out from the main plumage color are the pale eyebrows light spots on the scapulars and the barring on the wings and outer tail feathers Sometimes the crown and the underparts are streaked The bill has a black tip and may be dull green through to yellowish grey and the eyes are yellow They measure 22 24 cm 8 7 9 4 in in length and have a wingspan of 52 54 cm 20 21 in 3 Voice edit The typical song of the Madagascar scops owl is a series of between five and nine short reverberating clear hoots which can be rendered as pu pu pu pu pu These are repeated at intervals of several seconds 4 Distribution and habitat editThe Madagascar scops owl is endemic to Madagascar where it is found throughout the island As its common name Rainforest suggests the nominate subspecies O r rutilus prefer humid tropical forest and bush and occurs in the east of the island whereas the Torotoroka subspecies O r madagascariensis prefers drier habitats and occurs in the west of the island 5 Behaviour editThe Madagascar scops owl feeds on invertebrates such as grasshoppers beetles moths and spiders as well as taking small vertebrates It hunts mostly at night from a perch but will also catch moths on the wing 3 4 It roosts during the day hidden in dense foliage on a branch or next to the tree trunk Little is known about the breeding biology of this species The nest is in a tree hollow and 3 or 4 white eggs are laid probably in November and December 4 Taxonomy editThe rainforest scops owl the Mayotte scops owl Otus mayottensis the Pemba scops owl Otus pembaensis and the torotoroka scops owl Otus madagascarensis have all previously been lumped as one species The taxonomy is in a state of flux but recent genetic studies have placed the Pemba scops owl closer to the clade containing the African scops owl Otus sengalensis while the Mayotte scops owl is clearly separate from the remaining two The status of the rainforestdebatable as there is very little genetic distance between the two taxa 6 7 and subsequent studies have suggested that the plumage differences between O rutilus and O madagascariensis are small and that their voices intergrade 8 Therefore the rainforest and Torotoroka scops owls become subspecies under the new name Madagascar scops owl taking the scientific name Otus rutilus References edit BirdLife International 2016 Otus rutilus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22735960A95122449 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22735960A95122449 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b Malagasy or Rainforest Scops Owls beautyofbirds com Retrieved 27 October 2016 a b c Madagascar Scops Owl Otus rutilus The Owl Pages Deane Lewis Retrieved 27 October 2016 Rainforest Scops Owl Otus rutilus Pucheran 1849 Avibase Denis Lepage Retrieved 27 October 2016 Fuchs Jerome et al 2008 Tracing the colonization history of the Indian Ocean scops owls Strigiformes Otus with further insight into the spatio temporal origin of the Malagasy avifauna BMC Evolutionary Biology 8 197 doi 10 1186 1471 2148 8 197 PMC 2483963 PMID 18611281 Fuchs Jerome Pons Jean Marc Pasquet Eric Raherilalao Marie Jeanne Goodman Steven M 2007 Geographical Structure of Genetic Variation in the Malagasy scops owl inferred from Mitochondrial Sequence Data abstract Condor 109 2 408 418 doi 10 1650 0010 5422 2007 109 408 gsogvi 2 0 co 2 Madagascar Scops owl Otus rutilus Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Retrieved 29 October 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rainforest scops owl amp oldid 1192324532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
