Spermestes is a genus of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae. They are distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa.
| 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
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| Species | |
|
See text | |
Taxonomy edit
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]
Species edit
The genus contains four species:[4]
| Image | Common Name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
Grey-headed silverbill | Spermestes griseicapilla | eastern Africa |
| |
Bronze mannikin | Spermestes cucullata | Africa south of the Sahara Desert |
 |
Magpie mannikin | Spermestes fringilloides | Sub-Saharan Africa |
_(7699911414),_crop.jpg) |
Black-and-white mannikin | Spermestes bicolor | African tropical rainforest |
References edit
- ^ Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. Vol. 2. London: John Taylor. p. 280.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ Olsson, Urban; Alström, Per (2020). "A comprehensive phylogeny and taxonomic evaluation of the waxbills (Aves: Estrildidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 146: 106757. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106757.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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