Athene (owl)
Little Owl ( Athene noctua)
The little owl (Athene ) are a genus of authentics owls ( Strigidae ). The genus contains three species. These are mostly small crepuscular and nocturnal owls. The diet of the little owl is very wide. Insects can make up a very large share in their diet. However, there are usually small mammals, which account for the bulk of energy in the diet.
In Central Europe, only the eponymous Little Owl ( Athene noctua), whose entire distribution area stretches over Eurasia and North Africa lives. In Central Europe it lives only in secondary habitats. Its primary habitats are steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The only type that occurs in the New World, is the burrowing owl. According to morphology and behavior of the burrowing owl is the most life on the ground specialized Article This is reflected, among other things on his long runs.
At times, included the Blewitt - fogy in this genus, but today he is back in the monotypic genus Heteroglaux.
Species
- Brahma - owl (Athene brama )
- Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia )
- Little Owl ( Athene noctua)
Breaks based on the Artabgrenzung there, especially when the little owl. According to classical taxonomy can be distinguished due to differences in physique and the plumage coloration of the owl up to 13 subspecies. On the basis of phylogenetic studies, this classification is currently in transition. Thus, the Central and Southern European forms differ based on the cytochrome b- comparison clearly of molds in Asia Minor and Israel. According to the results available so far, it is possible that it is the subspecies noctua, vidalii, indigena, lilith and plumipes in which species belonging to superspecies. Claus König, Friedhelm Weick and call in their 2008 monograph published owls only eight subspecies and treat lilith and spilogastra as a separate species. These are then performed accordingly as:
- Lilith - owl (Athene lilith ), Athene noctua lilith previously
- Ethiopia - owl (Athene spilogastra ), before Athene noctua spilogastra
Origin of the name
The genus name Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy and struggle, Pallas Athena, back, whose symbol is the owl.