Spermestes
| Spermestes | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bronze mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| 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 five species:[4]
| Image | Common Name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Grey-headed silverbill | Spermestes griseicapilla | eastern Africa |
 |
Bronze mannikin | Spermestes cucullata | Africa south of the Sahara Desert |
 |
Magpie mannikin | Spermestes fringilloides | Sub-Saharan Africa |
 |
Black-and-white mannikin | Spermestes bicolor | African tropical rainforest |
 |
Red-backed mannikin | Spermestes nigriceps | Africa |
References[]
- ^ Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. Volume 2. London: John Taylor. p. 280.
|volume=has extra text (help) - ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
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Categories:
- Spermestes
- Bird genera
- Taxa named by William John Swainson
- Estrildidae stubs