Omani owl
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S. butleri
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| Strix butleri (Hume, 1878)
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The Omani owl (Strix butleri) is an owl of the genus Strix found in Oman. The owl is the only bird believed to be endemic to Oman.[1][2]
Contents
Original discovery
The holotype of the Omani owl was collected by the ornithologist Colonel Edward Arthur Butler. Butler sent the holotype to Allan Octavian Hume. In 1878 Hume described the holotype, calling it Hume's owl, and commemorating Butler with its scientific name.[3]
The scientific specific name butleri refers to Colonel Edward Arthur Butler, English ornithologist who sent specimens of the species to Allan Octavian Hume who is commemorated in the bird's common name.[3]
Later, similar owls were seen, heard and collected in the Middle East and were presumed to be the same species, but they are now (since 2015) considered a separate species, the Desert Tawny Owl, Strix hadorami. [4]
Discovery in mountains of northern Oman
In 2013 Robb et al discovered what they believed to be a new species of Strix in Oman. They called this owl the Omani owl and gave it the binomial Strix omanensis. It was described only from photographs and sound recordings, without a specimen or genetic sample.
In 2015, when many Strix butleri specimens were recategorized to Strix hadorami, it was concluded that Strix omanensis is most probably a synonym of Strix butleri, more closely resembling its holotype.
Conservation status
The IUCN lists Strix butleri as least concern. However this classification predates taxonomic changes, so now probably applies better to the Desert Tawny Owl, Strix hadorami. The IUCN's evaluation for Strix omanensis (now probably considered a synonym of Strix butleri) is "data deficient".
Description
The Omani owl has features that no other Strix has such as long legs and orange eyes. It has a bi-coloured pale and dark grey face, dark greyish brown upperparts, pale underparts with long, narrow vertical dark streaks, banded wings, and a banded tail.[2]
Habitat
The owl is observed to appear to live high up rocky cliffs, and were not seen to live in the Wadis.[2]
See also
References
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- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jose_Copete/publication/270428910_Multiple_lines_of_evidence_confirm_that_Humes_Owl_Strix_butleri_(A._O._Hume_1878)_is_two_species_with_description_of_an_unnamed_species_(Aves_Non-Passeriformes_Strigidae)/links/54abb5f20cf25c4c472f8bd0.pdf
