Coua

Giant Coua ( Coua gigas)

The Silk Cuckoos ( Coua ) are a genus in Madagascar endemic Cuckoos ( Cuculidae ). They resemble the African Turaco ( Musophagidae ) and how these have an area of bare skin around the eyes. Like all cuckoos they can turn their third toe both forwards and backwards. Three of the nine species live in the rainforests of the eastern lowlands, while the other six are living in the dry regions of Madagascar in the west and south. The smallest Coua, the Yellow -throated Coua ( Coua cursor) reaches a weight of 120 grams, while the giant Coua ( Coua gigas) up to 400 grams, is difficult.

Nutrition

Silk cuckoos are omnivorous and feed on fruits, seeds, leaves, tree sap, insects, spiders, amphibians and small reptiles. Coua caerulea seems mainly to feed on no lizards.

Enemies

Documented predators of the Silk cuckoos include the fossa ( Cryptoprocta ferox ), the Madagascar Harrier ( Polyboroides radiatus ) and the Madagascar Goshawk ( Accipiter henstii ). Most birds are killed by humans, however, mimics the Silk cuckoos to be eaten with snares and traps.

System

Traditionally, silk cuckoos were classified as a separate subfamily Couinae. Since 1997 they are put together but with Asian species of cuckoo in the subfamily stained beak Cuckoos ( Phaenicophaeinae ), which is divided into the tribes Couini for silk cuckoos and Phaenicophaeini for Asian relatives. Phylogenetic studies have confirmed this relationship. They also showed that the silk cuckoos are a monophyletic group, which consists of two clades. A to include the arboreal species Coua caerulea and Coua cristata and another to the large, ground-dwelling species Coua cursor, Coua serriana, Coua reynaudii and Coua ruficeps are ( were examined only six of the nine species).

Today there are nine living species. A species is extinct in the 19th century; a subspecies of the late 20th century. In addition, two species are known to have become extinct in prehistoric times.

  • Blue Coua ( Coua caerulea (Linnaeus, 1766 ) )
  • Coquerel - Coua ( Coua coquereli Gran Didier A., 1867)
  • Spitz cropping Coua ( Coua cristata (Linnaeus, 1766 ) ) † Coua cristata maxima Milon, (only from the holotype of 1950 known)
204662
de