Bulo Burti Boubou
Encyclopedia
The Somali Boubou is a medium-size bushshrike
. It was split from the Tropical Boubou
(Laniarius aethiopicus) as a result of DNA sequence
analysis, and this change in status was recognized by the International Ornithological Committee
in 2008. Two colour morphs are recognized, a predominantly black one and an extremely rare black and yellow morph which was formerly considered a separate species, the Bulo Burti Boubou (Laniarius liberatus). The Somali Boubou is endemic to Somalia
. The species epithet commemorates German ornithologist Baron Carlo von Erlanger who collected the holotype near Umfudu in June 1901.
, 140 km inland in Hiiraan
gobolka (region) near Buuloburde (Buulobarde, Bulo Burti) on the Shebelle River
, and was described using blood and feather samples to provide a DNA sequence
. Apparently for the first time for a modern bird description, no specimen (either the bird or a part of it) was kept as a type
; the bird was released back into the wild in 1990 because the scientists who caught it felt that the species was very rare. The blood and feather samples were destroyed in the process of sequencing. The epithet liberatus ("the liberated one") was given because of this. It was not found during searches in 1989 and 1990. It resembles the Red-naped Bush-shrike
L. ruficeps but has no red nape, is black, not grey, on the mantle, and is washed buffy-yellow on throat and breast.
This presumed species was considered critically endangered by Birdlife International
.
In 2008, a new review of the molecular sequence data
revealed the identity of the Bulo Burti Boubou as a colour morph of Laniarius erlangeri (traditionally considered a subspecies
of L. aethiopicus, but recommended for species status in the same study).. Following the 2008 study the International Ornithological Committee
recognized L. erlangeri as distinct species and put L. liberatus into the synonymity of L. erlangeri. So did BirdLife International
which removed L. liberatus from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Birds 2009.
Bushshrike
The bushshrikes are smallish passerine bird species. They were formerly classed with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group as the family Malaconotidae....
. It was split from the Tropical Boubou
Tropical Boubou
The Tropical Boubou or Bell Shrike is a medium-sized passerine bird of sub-Saharan Africa. This very diverse "species" with its numerous subspecies and morphs has since long posed a taxonomic problem, and recent research suggests it is a cryptic species complex that ought to be split into several...
(Laniarius aethiopicus) as a result of DNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
analysis, and this change in status was recognized by the International Ornithological Committee
International Ornithological Committee
The International Ornithological Committee is a group of about 200 international ornithologists, and is responsible for the International Ornithological Congress and other international ornithological activities, undertaken by its Standing Committees....
in 2008. Two colour morphs are recognized, a predominantly black one and an extremely rare black and yellow morph which was formerly considered a separate species, the Bulo Burti Boubou (Laniarius liberatus). The Somali Boubou is endemic to Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. The species epithet commemorates German ornithologist Baron Carlo von Erlanger who collected the holotype near Umfudu in June 1901.
Description
The adult has glossy blue-black except for white spots on the rump, visible when the wings are spread and the rump feathers are erected. The underparts are white with a buffy or pinkish tinge on the breast and flanks. The bill is black; the eyes are dark reddish-brown. The wings have white median coverts. The juvenile is similar but duller, with a greyish brown bill, the upperparts mottled by yellowish-ochre to tawny feather tips, and dusky-barred flanks. The Somali Boubou differs from Tropical Boubou in that it is smaller and has less white in the wing.Bulo Burti Boubou
The "Bulo Burti Boubou", formerly recognized as a distinct species, Laniarius liberatus, was only known from one individual trapped in 1988 in central SomaliaSomalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, 140 km inland in Hiiraan
Hiiraan
Hiran is an administrative region in south-central Somalia.-Overview:Hiiraan is bordered by the Somali Region of Ethiopia to the northwest, and the Somalian provinces of Galgudud to the northeast, Middle Shebelle) to the south, Lower Shebelle to the southwest, and Bay and Bakool to the west.The...
gobolka (region) near Buuloburde (Buulobarde, Bulo Burti) on the Shebelle River
Shebelle River
The Shebelle River begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal...
, and was described using blood and feather samples to provide a DNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
. Apparently for the first time for a modern bird description, no specimen (either the bird or a part of it) was kept as a type
Biological type
In biology, a type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached...
; the bird was released back into the wild in 1990 because the scientists who caught it felt that the species was very rare. The blood and feather samples were destroyed in the process of sequencing. The epithet liberatus ("the liberated one") was given because of this. It was not found during searches in 1989 and 1990. It resembles the Red-naped Bush-shrike
Red-naped Bush-shrike
The Red-naped Bushshrike or Red-naped Boubou is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
L. ruficeps but has no red nape, is black, not grey, on the mantle, and is washed buffy-yellow on throat and breast.
This presumed species was considered critically endangered by Birdlife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
.
In 2008, a new review of the molecular sequence data
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
revealed the identity of the Bulo Burti Boubou as a colour morph of Laniarius erlangeri (traditionally considered a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of L. aethiopicus, but recommended for species status in the same study).. Following the 2008 study the International Ornithological Committee
International Ornithological Committee
The International Ornithological Committee is a group of about 200 international ornithologists, and is responsible for the International Ornithological Congress and other international ornithological activities, undertaken by its Standing Committees....
recognized L. erlangeri as distinct species and put L. liberatus into the synonymity of L. erlangeri. So did BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
which removed L. liberatus from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Birds 2009.