Biology:Spermestes

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Short description: Genus of birds

Spermestes
Mannikin Bronze 2007 04 08 0545b, crop.jpg
Bronze mannikin (Spermestes cucullata)
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Spermestes
Swainson, 1837
Type species
Spermestes cucullata
bronze mannikin
Swainson, 1837
Species

See text

Spermestes is a genus of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae. They are distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Taxonomy

The genus Spermestes was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson to accommodate the bronze mannikin.[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek sperma meaning "seed" and -estēs meaning "-eater".[2]

Based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020, this genus was resurrected for a clade of species that were formerly assigned to the genera Lonchura and Odontospiza.[3][4]

Species

The genus contains four species:[4]

Image Common Name Scientific name Distribution
Grey-headed Silverbill, Samburu, Kenya S4E5260 (22973951312).jpg Grey-headed silverbill Spermestes griseicapilla eastern Africa
Mannikin Bronze 2007 04 08 0545b, crop.jpg Bronze mannikin Spermestes cucullata Africa south of the Sahara Desert
Magpie Mannikin RWD2.jpg Magpie mannikin Spermestes fringilloides Sub-Saharan Africa
Black-and-white Mannikin (Spermestes bicolor) (7699911414), crop.jpg Black-and-white mannikin Spermestes bicolor African tropical rainforest

References

  1. Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. 2. London: John Taylor. p. 280. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41945058. 
  2. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4. 
  3. Olsson, Urban; Alström, Per (2020). "A comprehensive phylogeny and taxonomic evaluation of the waxbills (Aves: Estrildidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 146: 106757. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106757. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds (January 2023). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/waxbills/. 

Wikidata ☰ Q1290764 entry