Biology:Salpornis

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Short description: Genus of birds

Salpornis
Indian spotted creeper (Salpornis spilonota)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Superfamily: Certhioidea
Family: Certhiidae
Genus: Salpornis
G.R. Gray, 1847
Type species
Certhia spilonota[1]
Franklin, 1831
Species

S. spilonota
S. salvadori

Salpornis is a genus of birds which was usually included in the family Certhiidae, but recently elevated to its own family Salpornithidae.[2] The genus has in the past also been included with the nuthatches in the family Sittidae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses show them to be definitely within the Certhioidea but still leaves some uncertainty about their placement in relation to the genera Sitta, Tichodroma and Certhia. While they appear similar to the treecreepers (Certhia), they do not use their tails to support them while climbing and some molecular evidence shows them to be closer to the nuthatches (Sitta)[3] while another study suggests a closer relation to the wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria.[4] The generic name is derived from the Greek salpinktes for wren and ornis for bird.[5]

Heads and legs of Tichodroma and Salpornis

The tail has twelve feathers and is rounded at the tips. The nostril is exposed and there are no rictal bristles. The tongue ends in five bristles.[6]

The genus has two species with the African species earlier considered as a subspecies. Differences in size, calls and mitochondrial DNA sequences have supported the splitting of the African and Indian populations.[4]

References

  1. "Sittidae". The Trust for Avian Systematics. https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=177. 
  2. "Nuthatches, Wallcreeper, treecreepers, spotted creepers, mockingbirds, starlings, oxpeckers – IOC World Bird List". 2025-02-20. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/nuthatch/. 
  3. Johansson, Ulf S.; Fjeldså, Jon; Bowie, Rauri C.K. (2008). "Phylogenetic relationships within Passerida (Aves: Passeriformes): A review and a new molecular phylogeny based on three nuclear intron markers". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48 (3): 858–876. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.05.029. PMID 18619860. Bibcode2008MolPE..48..858J. http://www.nrm.se/download/18.7d9d550411abf68c801800015111/1367705200535/Johansson+et+al+Passerida+2008.pdf. Retrieved 2014-02-21. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Tietze, Dieter Thomas; Martens, Jochen (2010). "Intraspecific differentiation in Spotted Creepers, Salpornis spilonotus (Aves:Passeriformes:Certhiidae)". Vertebrate Zoology 60 (2): 163–170. doi:10.3897/vz.60.e31001. http://www.senckenberg.de/files/content/forschung/publikationen/vertebratezoology/vz60-2/07_vertebrate_zoology_60-2_tietze.pdf. 
  5. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of scientific bird names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 346. https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling. 
  6. Hellmayr, CE (1911). Wytsman, Philogene. ed. Genera Avium. Passeres. Fam. Certhiidae. p. 9. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36872260. 

Wikidata ☰ Q10812337 entry