Aerodramus

Weissbürzelsalangane ( Aerodramus spodiopygia )

Aerodramus is a species of bird in the family of sailors ( Apodidae ), whose species occur in tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia, Oceania and the North East of Australia.

Originally, all swiftlets a single genus have been assigned. A division into two or more genera has been discussed several times, RK Brooke 1970 made ​​division between the three genera encountered for the first time on a broader agreement and was confirmed in 2003 by a number of molecular genetic studies. By far the largest genus is Aerodramus, this includes those species that have the ability to echolocation.

Features

When the representatives of the genus Aerodramus is quite small glider with a body length of 10-14 centimeters. The plumage is mostly gray, but in contrast to the related Collocalia species not shiny.

Echolocation

The Aerodramus species have the ability to echolocation, for some species but it is only suspected and has not been definitely proven. This ability is very unusual among birds and can be found next to the swiftlets only when only the South American fat Schwalm ( Steeatornis caripensis ). In contrast to the bats Salanganen this ability obviously do not need to locate prey in the air, but echolocation allows them to nest in dark caves. Moreover, they are thus able to go longer at night hunting for insects without having a problem when searching for the nest site in great darkness.

The majority of the species use echolocation a double click-sound, while the Atiusalangane ( Aerodramus sawtelli ) and at least a subspecies of Schwarznestsalangane ( Aerodramus maximus) are only a click away from yourself. It has been suggested that this difference has anatomical causes and that this could be an indication that the genus is not monophyletic. The monophyly of the genus, however, was confirmed by molecular genetic studies.

Edible bird's nests

Most sailors types use saliva to build the nest, this behavior is most pronounced in the Weißnestsalangane ( Aerodramus fuciphagus ), it builds its nest exclusively of saliva. The almost white and as water glass looking nests are the most popular " edible swallows' nests ." But by the Schwarznestsalanganen ( Aerodramus maximus) built so-called black nests that consist mainly of salivary of moss, grass and feathers, are considered a delicacy. The popularity of these birds' nests makes measures to protect these species required.

System

Originally, all swiftlets a single genus have been assigned. In the following time allocations were discussed at several genera, and the species were re-sorted based on several occasions on external characteristics and differences in breeding biology until 1970 made ​​by RK Brooke division of swiftlets found relatively wide recognition to three genera, in which the ability to echolocate the decisive criterion represented.

A contradiction emerged when it was shown that the counting for the sister genus Collocalia Zwergsalangane (C. troglodytes) has the ability to echolocation. For this property has lost its outstanding importance to differentiate between genres. A research group led by Henri Thomassen conjectured in 2005 that echolocation is incurred in the Zwergsalangane by convergent evolution. Although the monophyly of Aerodramus and Collocalia was also operated in these studies, the authors were considering all swiftlets to reunite in a genus, since there is now no clear outward sign more to distinguish.

The following types are attributed to the genus:

  • Seychellensalangane ( Aerodramus Elaphrus )
  • Mauritiussalangane ( Aerodramus francicus )
  • Malabarsalangane ( Aerodramus unicolor)
  • Braunbürzelsalangane ( Aerodramus mearnsi )
  • Molukkensalangane ( Aerodramus infuscatus )
  • Bergsalangane ( Aerodramus hirundinaceus )
  • Weißbürzelsalangane ( Aerodramus spodiopygius )
  • Queenslandsalangane ( Aerodramus terraereginae )
  • Himalayasalangane ( Aerodramus brevirostris )
  • Philippinensalangane ( Aerodramus whiteheadi )
  • Nacktfußsalangane ( Aerodramus nuditarsus )
  • Salomonensalangane ( Aerodramus orientalis)
  • Moosnestsalangane ( Aerodramus salangana )
  • Einfarbsalangane ( Aerodramus vanikorensis )
  • Palausalangane ( Aerodramus pelewensis )
  • Marianensalangane ( Aerodramus bartschi )
  • Karolinensalangane ( Aerodramus inquietus )
  • Atiusalangane ( Aerodramus sawtelli )
  • Polynesiensalangane ( Aerodramus leucophaeus )
  • Schwarznestsalangane ( Aerodramus maximus)
  • Weißnestsalangane ( Aerodramus fuciphagus )
  • Papuasalangane ( Aerodramus papuensis )

The extinct Mangaia swiftlet ( Collocalia manuoi ) described in 2002 probably belongs also in this genus.

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