The short-legged ground roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) is a species of bird in the ground roller family Brachypteraciidae. It is the only living species in the genus Brachypteracias and is endemic to Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The short-legged ground roller is the only extant species in the genus Brachypteracias, although a fossil species, Brachypteracias langrandi, has been described.[2] The short-legged ground roller is more arboreal than other ground rollers, and may represent the ancestral form of the family.[3] The genus Brachypteracias once included the scaly ground roller, but a 2001 study of the DNA of the family found that the two are not closely related. The same study found that the short-legged ground roller is basal in the family.[4]
The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greekbrakhupteros for short-winged.[5] The species name leptosomus is also of Greek origin, and is derived from leptos for delicate and sōma for body.[6]
Distribution and habitatedit
The short-legged ground roller is endemic to Madagascar, where it is present in the northern part of the island through the eastern coast, to the southern end of the island. Its natural habitat is humid tropical moist lowland forests, from sea-level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft), although it is more common at lower altitudes. It is almost exclusively found in mature closed forest with large trees, but it can also be found on slopes with numerous saplings. It is rarely seen in disturbed forests.[7]
Descriptionedit
The throat of this species is puffy
The short-legged ground roller has a large head and bill, and a puffy throat. It is the largest forest ground roller, and is stouter than the other species (except for the scaly ground roller).[3] It measures 30 to 38 cm (12–15 in) in length, and weighs 154–217 g (5.4–7.7 oz). Where sexed individuals have been weighed, the males were heavier, but the sample size was small. Females are smaller in other body measurements, for example the wing chord length, which is 138 to 143 mm (5.4–5.6 in) in females compared to 140 to 152 mm (5.5–6.0 in) in males.[7] As the name suggests, the legs are short for the family, but contrary to its generic name, the wings are the longest in the family, making this the most arboreal species, but it is still not a strong flier.[3]
Like the other members of the family, the plumage is cryptic.[3]
Behaviouredit
The short-legged ground roller is a secretive species that has only been limitedly studied. Everything that is known about the behaviour of the species has come from a single systematic study of a single pair in Masoala National Park, and from incidental observations of other birds.[8]
Status and conservationedit
The short-legged ground roller is considered to be fairly common in its natural habitat. Nevertheless, it is considered to be threatened with extinction due to the rapid loss of its habitat to slash and burns for subsistence agriculture. Its habitat is also considered to be threatened by climate change. Modelling of habitat change due to climate change predicts that the species may lose up to 62% of its current habitat.[9] The species is also hunted.[3]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Brachypteracias leptosomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22682931A92969638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682931A92969638.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Goodman, Steven M. (January 2000). "A description of a new species of (Family Brachypteraciidae) from the Holocene of Madagascar". Ostrich. 71 (1–2): 318–322. doi:10.1080/00306525.2000.9639941. S2CID 83685435.
^ abcdeLangrand, O. (2017). Ground-rollers (Brachypteraciidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52276 on 20 March 2017).
^Kirchman, Jeremy J.; Hackett, Shannon J.; Goodman, Steven M.; Bates, John M. (2001). "Phylogeny and Systematics of Ground Rollers (Brachypteraciidae) of Madagascar". The Auk. 118 (4): 849. doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118[0849:PASOGR]2.0.CO;2.
^Jobling, J. A. (2017). Brachypteracias in Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology. In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2017). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from www.hbw.com).
^Jobling, J. A. (2017). leptosomus in Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology. In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2017). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from www.hbw.com).
^ abLangrand, O. & Kirwan, G.M. (2017). Short-legged Ground-roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55865 on 20 March 2017).
^Thorstrom, Russell; Lind, Johan (3 April 2008). "First nest description, breeding, ranging and foraging behaviour of the Short-legged Ground-Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus in Madagascar". Ibis. 141 (4): 569–576. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1999.tb07364.x.
^Andriamasimanana, Rado H.; Cameron, Alison (April 2013). "Predicting the impacts of climate change on the distribution of threatened forest-restricted birds in Madagascar". Ecology and Evolution. 3 (4): 763–769. doi:10.1002/ece3.497. PMC3631392. PMID 23610622.
External linksedit
BirdLife Species Factsheet.
January 01, 1970
short, legged, ground, roller, short, legged, ground, roller, brachypteracias, leptosomus, species, bird, ground, roller, family, brachypteraciidae, only, living, species, genus, brachypteracias, endemic, madagascar, threatened, habitat, loss, conservation, st. The short legged ground roller Brachypteracias leptosomus is a species of bird in the ground roller family Brachypteraciidae It is the only living species in the genus Brachypteracias and is endemic to Madagascar It is threatened by habitat loss Short legged ground roller Conservation status Vulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Coraciiformes Family Brachypteraciidae Genus Brachypteracias Species B leptosomus Binomial name Brachypteracias leptosomus Lesson 1833 Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Description 4 Behaviour 5 Status and conservation 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy and systematics editThe short legged ground roller is the only extant species in the genus Brachypteracias although a fossil species Brachypteracias langrandi has been described 2 The short legged ground roller is more arboreal than other ground rollers and may represent the ancestral form of the family 3 The genus Brachypteracias once included the scaly ground roller but a 2001 study of the DNA of the family found that the two are not closely related The same study found that the short legged ground roller is basal in the family 4 The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek brakhupteros for short winged 5 The species name leptosomus is also of Greek origin and is derived from leptos for delicate and sōma for body 6 Distribution and habitat editThe short legged ground roller is endemic to Madagascar where it is present in the northern part of the island through the eastern coast to the southern end of the island Its natural habitat is humid tropical moist lowland forests from sea level to 1 500 m 4 900 ft although it is more common at lower altitudes It is almost exclusively found in mature closed forest with large trees but it can also be found on slopes with numerous saplings It is rarely seen in disturbed forests 7 Description edit nbsp The throat of this species is puffy The short legged ground roller has a large head and bill and a puffy throat It is the largest forest ground roller and is stouter than the other species except for the scaly ground roller 3 It measures 30 to 38 cm 12 15 in in length and weighs 154 217 g 5 4 7 7 oz Where sexed individuals have been weighed the males were heavier but the sample size was small Females are smaller in other body measurements for example the wing chord length which is 138 to 143 mm 5 4 5 6 in in females compared to 140 to 152 mm 5 5 6 0 in in males 7 As the name suggests the legs are short for the family but contrary to its generic name the wings are the longest in the family making this the most arboreal species but it is still not a strong flier 3 Like the other members of the family the plumage is cryptic 3 Behaviour editThe short legged ground roller is a secretive species that has only been limitedly studied Everything that is known about the behaviour of the species has come from a single systematic study of a single pair in Masoala National Park and from incidental observations of other birds 8 Status and conservation editThe short legged ground roller is considered to be fairly common in its natural habitat Nevertheless it is considered to be threatened with extinction due to the rapid loss of its habitat to slash and burns for subsistence agriculture Its habitat is also considered to be threatened by climate change Modelling of habitat change due to climate change predicts that the species may lose up to 62 of its current habitat 9 The species is also hunted 3 References edit BirdLife International 2016 Brachypteracias leptosomus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22682931A92969638 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22682931A92969638 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Goodman Steven M January 2000 A description of a new species of Family Brachypteraciidae from the Holocene of Madagascar Ostrich 71 1 2 318 322 doi 10 1080 00306525 2000 9639941 S2CID 83685435 a b c d e Langrand O 2017 Ground rollers Brachypteraciidae In del Hoyo J Elliott A Sargatal J Christie D A amp de Juana E eds Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona retrieved from http www hbw com node 52276 on 20 March 2017 Kirchman Jeremy J Hackett Shannon J Goodman Steven M Bates John M 2001 Phylogeny and Systematics of Ground Rollers Brachypteraciidae of Madagascar The Auk 118 4 849 doi 10 1642 0004 8038 2001 118 0849 PASOGR 2 0 CO 2 Jobling J A 2017 Brachypteracias in Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology In del Hoyo J Elliott A Sargatal J Christie D A amp de Juana E eds 2017 Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona retrieved from www hbw com Jobling J A 2017 leptosomus in Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology In del Hoyo J Elliott A Sargatal J Christie D A amp de Juana E eds 2017 Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona retrieved from www hbw com a b Langrand O amp Kirwan G M 2017 Short legged Ground roller Brachypteracias leptosomus In del Hoyo J Elliott A Sargatal J Christie D A amp de Juana E eds Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona retrieved from http www hbw com node 55865 on 20 March 2017 Thorstrom Russell Lind Johan 3 April 2008 First nest description breeding ranging and foraging behaviour of the Short legged Ground Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus in Madagascar Ibis 141 4 569 576 doi 10 1111 j 1474 919X 1999 tb07364 x Andriamasimanana Rado H Cameron Alison April 2013 Predicting the impacts of climate change on the distribution of threatened forest restricted birds in Madagascar Ecology and Evolution 3 4 763 769 doi 10 1002 ece3 497 PMC 3631392 PMID 23610622 External links editBirdLife Species Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Short legged ground roller amp oldid 1186033193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
