Macronyx aurantiigula

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Aves
Subclassis: Carinatae
Infraclassis: Neornithes
Parvclassis: Neognathae
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Parvordo: Passerida
Superfamilia: Passeroidea
Familia: Motacillidae
Genus: Macronyx
Species: Macronyx aurantiigula

Name

Macronyx aurantiigula Reichenow, 1891

Reference

Journal für Ornithologie 39 p.222

Vernacular names
English: Pangani Longclaw

The Pangani Longclaw (Macronyx aurantiigula) is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family, which includes the pipits and wagtails. It is found in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Originally described by German ornithologist Anton Reichenow in 1891, the Pangani Longclaw is a member of the longclaw genus Macronyx. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words μακρός/makros "long", and ονυξ/onyx "claw" or "talons".[1] The species name is derived from the Latin words aurantium "orange", and gŭla "throat" or "gullet"[2]

The Pangani Longclaw measures around 20 cm (8 in) in length.[3] As its species name suggests, it has an yellow-orange throat. This is bordered with a black necklace. The upperparts are mottled various shades of brown, and the belly is yellow. In immature birds, the belly is more buff than yellow and the dark breast band less distinct.[3] The flanks are streaked black and buff. The flight is jerky.[4] The call has been described as a high-pitched siuuweeeee, with a pitch that rises, falls then rises before fading away.[4]

Its more orange throat helps distinguish it from the Yellow-throated Longclaw and Abyssinian Longclaw, however the throats of female and older immature Pangani Longclaws can be more yellow.[4][3] The last species is also found further north in the Horn of Africa in Ethiopia.[3]

A predominantly ground-dwelling bird, the Pangani Longclaw inhabits grasslands,[3] to an altitude of 1800 m (5500 ft).[4]
References

^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1980) [1871]. A Greek-English Lexicon (abridged ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 423, 491. ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
^ Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd.. p. 269. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
^ a b c d e Nigel Redman, John Fanshawe, Terry Stevenson (2009). Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Socotra. A&C Black. pp. 294. ISBN 0713665416.
^ a b c d Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe (2004). Birds of East Africa. A&C Black. pp. 302. ISBN 0713673478.

BirdLife International 2004. Macronyx aurantiigula. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 26 July 2007.