Omani owl
| Omani owl | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Strix |
| Species: | S. butleri |
| Binomial name | |
| Strix butleri (Hume, 1878) | |
The Omani owl (Strix butleri) is an owl of the genus Strix found in Oman. The owl is the only bird believed to be endemic to Oman.[1][2]
Original discovery
The holotype of the Omani owl was collected by the ornithologist Colonel Edward Arthur Butler. Butler sent the holotype to Allan Octavian Hume. In 1878 Hume described the holotype, calling it Hume's owl, and commemorating Butler with its scientific name.[3] Later, similar owls were seen in the Middle East and were presumed to be the same species..
Rediscovery
In 2013 Robb et al discovered what they believed to be a new species of Strix in Oman. They called this owl the Omani owl and gave it the binomial Strix omanensis. It was later determined that the owl was the true Hume's owl collected and named by Allan Octavian Hume in 1878.
The scientific specific name butleri refers to Colonel Edward Arthur Butler, English ornithologist who sent specimens of the species to Allan Octavian Hume who is commemorated in the bird's common name.[3]
Description
The Omani owl has features that no other Strix has such as long legs and orange eyes. It has a bi-coloured pale and dark grey face, dark greyish brown upperparts, pale underparts with long, narrow vertical dark streaks, banded wings, and a banded tail.[2]
Habitat
The owl is observed to appear to live high up rocky cliffs, and were not seen to live in the Wadis.[2]
References
- ↑ "Owl recorded in Oman could be a new species". BBC News. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- 1 2 3 Robb, Magnus; van den Berg, Arnoud B; Constantine, Mark (4 October 2013). "A new species of Strix owl from Oman" (PDF). Dutch Birding 35 (5): 275–310.
- 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 173–174.