São Tomé scops owl

São Tomé scops owl
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Otus
Species: O. hartlaubi
Binomial name
Otus hartlaubi
(Giebel, 1849)

The São Tomé scops-owl (Otus hartlaubi), alternatively known as petit-duc de Sao Tomé, or autillo de Santo Tomé, is a species of owl in the true owl (a.k.a. Strigidae) family which is one of the two families of owl. Within that family, this owl is in the scops owl (a.k.a. Otus) genus; this is the genus of owls having the largest number of species.

This owl species is endemic to São Tomé Island, in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa.[2] It is a small creature, about 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long, weighing about 79 grams (0.174 lb).[2]

This owl's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its continued survival depends upon stopping habitat loss in the remaining lowland rainforest of São Tomé, as does the survival of three other birds: the São Tomé ibis, São Tomé olive pigeon, and São Tomé oriole.[3]

This species of owl is the only one on the island, except for the common barn owl. Its diet consists of insects, grasshoppers, beetles, moths, and small lizards. This type of owl is nocturnal (like most owls) and is not shy toward humans. It roosts close to tree trunks or within them. Females of the species are somewhat larger than males.[2] The adult face and upper body are mostly brown, with white chin and eyebrows.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Otus hartlaubi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 König, Claus and Weick, Friedhelm. Owls of the World, p. 246 (A & C Black Publishers 2008).
  3. ↑ Kirby, Alex. "Many threatened birds 'need help'", BBC News (March 8, 2004).
  4. ↑ del Hoyo, Josep et al. Handbook of the Birds of the World: Barn-owls to hummingbirds, p. 170 (1999).

External links

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