Schoutedenapus

Schoutedenapus is a species of bird in the family of sailors ( Apodidae ). The two representatives of the endemic African genus outwardly resemble very much the Apus species. In both Schoutedenapus species is believed to be resident birds. The types are among the rarest in the sailors, the Schoutedensegler is known only from five individuals studied and has never been observed in the field.

Features

These are sailors medium size with a body length of about 16.5 centimeters. Both types have a very uniform gray - brown or black plumage. The wings are long, from the secondaries the wingtips run very pointed to. The tail is deeply forked, in flight the tail is often held closed. The degree of indentation of the outer control spring is a hallmark for age determination. The toes are arranged anisodactyl.

The mouse sailors often forms large schools and is a striking ticking, metallic sounding reputation of itself.

System

Because of their superficial similarity, the two species of this genus were originally assigned to the genus Apus. Due to their different arrangement toes - anisodactyl place as in the other species Apus pamprodactyl - the types of de Roo 1968 were placed in a separate genus. The allocation of this kind is difficult because of conflicting characteristics, as well as an assignment to the subfamily Cypselodinae has been considered in addition to the assignment to the tribe Apondini. The vocalizations of the mouse sailor in turn resemble the click sounds of echolocating swiftlets, so that the genus Schoutedenapus currently usually this is assigned.

The following types are attributed to the genus:

• Mouse Swift ( Schoutedenapus myoptilus )
• Schoutedensegler ( Schoutedenapus schotedeni )