Spermestes | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Bronze mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Estrildidae |
Genus: |
Spermestes Swainson, 1837 |
Type species | |
Spermestes cucullata bronze mannikin
Swainson, 1837
| |
Species | |
See text |
Spermestes is a genus of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae. They are distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The genus Spermestes was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson to accommodate the bronze mannikin. [1] The name combines the Ancient Greek sperma meaning "seed" and -estēs meaning "-eater". [2]
Based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020, this genus was resurrected for a clade of species that were formerly assigned to the genera Lonchura and Odontospiza. [3] [4]
The genus contains four species: [4]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Grey-headed silverbill |
Spermestes griseicapilla (Delacour, 1943) |
eastern Africa![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Bronze mannikin |
Spermestes cucullata Swainson, 1837 |
Africa south of the Sahara Desert![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Magpie mannikin |
Spermestes fringilloides (Lafresnaye, 1835) |
Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Black-and-white mannikin |
Spermestes bicolor (Fraser, 1843) Four subspecies
|
African tropical rainforest![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Spermestes | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Bronze mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Estrildidae |
Genus: |
Spermestes Swainson, 1837 |
Type species | |
Spermestes cucullata bronze mannikin
Swainson, 1837
| |
Species | |
See text |
Spermestes is a genus of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae. They are distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The genus Spermestes was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson to accommodate the bronze mannikin. [1] The name combines the Ancient Greek sperma meaning "seed" and -estēs meaning "-eater". [2]
Based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020, this genus was resurrected for a clade of species that were formerly assigned to the genera Lonchura and Odontospiza. [3] [4]
The genus contains four species: [4]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Grey-headed silverbill |
Spermestes griseicapilla (Delacour, 1943) |
eastern Africa![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Bronze mannikin |
Spermestes cucullata Swainson, 1837 |
Africa south of the Sahara Desert![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Magpie mannikin |
Spermestes fringilloides (Lafresnaye, 1835) |
Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Black-and-white mannikin |
Spermestes bicolor (Fraser, 1843) Four subspecies
|
African tropical rainforest![]() |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|