Lybiidae
Encyclopedia
The Lybiidae is a bird
family
containing the African barbets. They were usually united with their American and Asian relatives in the Capitonidae for quite some time, but this has been confirmed to be limited to the main American lineage. There are 42 species ranging from the type genus
Lybius of forest interior to the tinkerbird
s (Pogoniulus) of forest
and scrubland. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa
, with the exception of the far south-west of South Africa
.
The African terrestrial barbets, Trachyphoninae, range from the southern Sahara
to South Africa
. Members of one genus
, Trachyphonus, they are the most open-country species of barbets. The subfamily Lybiinae contains the African arboreal barbets. There are 36 species
of Lybiinae in 6 genera
.
(Pogoniulus atroflavus) with a mere 7 g and 9 cm (3.6 inches) in length.
They are mainly solitary birds, eating insects and fruit. Figs
and numerous other species of fruiting tree and bush are visited, an individual barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed
pits regurgitated later (often before singing
). Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens with toucan
s), although tinkerbird
s do place sticky mistletoe
seeds around the entrances of their nests, possibly to deter predators. As the other barbets, they are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal
in tropical forests.
As well as taking fruit, African barbets also take arthropod
prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.
The precise nesting details of many African barbets are not yet known, although peculiarly among the Piciformes
, some sociable species will nest in riverbanks or termite nests. Like many members of their order, Piciformes, their nests are in holes bored into a tree, and they usually lay between 2 to 4 eggs (except for the yellow-breasted barbet which lays up to 6), incubated for 13–15 days. Nesting duties are shared by both parents.
There has been generally little interference by humans. Some of the species which require primary woodland are declining due to deforestation
, occasionally to the benefit of close relatives. For example the loss of highland woods in Kenya
has seen the Moustached Tinkerbird almost disappear and the Red-fronted Tinkerbird
expand its range.
Subfamily Lybiinae
Subfamily Trachyphoninae
It is not entirely resolved whether the Early to Middle Miocene
genus Capitonides
from Europe
belongs to this family or the Asian barbets (now Megalaimidae). Indeed, given that the prehistoric birds somewhat resembled a primitive toucan (without these birds' present autapomorphies), they might occupy a more basal
position among the barbet-toucan clade
altogether. On the other hand they show some similarities to Trachyphonus
in particular and have even been placed into this genus, but this move is not widely accepted.
"CMC 152", a distal carpometacarpus
similar to that of barbets and found at the Middle Miocene locality of Grive-Saint-Alban (France
) was considered to differ from Capitonides in the initial description, being closer to extant (presumably Old World) barbets. This fossil is sometimes lumped into Trachyphonus too; in this case it may have more merit.
Supposed fossil
remains of Late Miocene
Pogoniulus were found at Kohfidisch
(Austria
) but are not yet thoroughly studied. It is not clear whether they belong to the extant genus but given the late date this may well be so.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
containing the African barbets. They were usually united with their American and Asian relatives in the Capitonidae for quite some time, but this has been confirmed to be limited to the main American lineage. There are 42 species ranging from the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
Lybius of forest interior to the tinkerbird
Tinkerbird
The tinkerbirds or tinker barbets are the genus Pogoniulus of the Lybiidae, the African barbet family of near passerines which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae...
s (Pogoniulus) of forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
and scrubland. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, with the exception of the far south-west of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The African terrestrial barbets, Trachyphoninae, range from the southern Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Members of one genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Trachyphonus, they are the most open-country species of barbets. The subfamily Lybiinae contains the African arboreal barbets. There are 36 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Lybiinae in 6 genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
.
Description and ecology
They are usually about 20–25 cm long, plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles; however the tinkerbirds are smaller, ranging down to the Red-rumped TinkerbirdRed-rumped Tinkerbird
The Red-rumped Tinkerbird is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and...
(Pogoniulus atroflavus) with a mere 7 g and 9 cm (3.6 inches) in length.
They are mainly solitary birds, eating insects and fruit. Figs
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
and numerous other species of fruiting tree and bush are visited, an individual barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
pits regurgitated later (often before singing
Bird song
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs are distinguished by function from calls.-Definition:The distinction between songs and calls is based upon...
). Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens with toucan
Toucan
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...
s), although tinkerbird
Tinkerbird
The tinkerbirds or tinker barbets are the genus Pogoniulus of the Lybiidae, the African barbet family of near passerines which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae...
s do place sticky mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
seeds around the entrances of their nests, possibly to deter predators. As the other barbets, they are thought to be important agents in seed dispersal
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
in tropical forests.
As well as taking fruit, African barbets also take arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.
The precise nesting details of many African barbets are not yet known, although peculiarly among the Piciformes
Piciformes
Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...
, some sociable species will nest in riverbanks or termite nests. Like many members of their order, Piciformes, their nests are in holes bored into a tree, and they usually lay between 2 to 4 eggs (except for the yellow-breasted barbet which lays up to 6), incubated for 13–15 days. Nesting duties are shared by both parents.
There has been generally little interference by humans. Some of the species which require primary woodland are declining due to deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
, occasionally to the benefit of close relatives. For example the loss of highland woods in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
has seen the Moustached Tinkerbird almost disappear and the Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Red-fronted Tinkerbird
The Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus formerly known as Red-fronted Tinker Barbet is a small African barbet. Barbets are near passerine birds with bristles around the base of the bill...
expand its range.
Systematics
- Genus GymnobuccoGymnobuccoGymnobucco is a bird genus in the African barbet family which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae.It contains the following species:* Naked-faced Barbet, Gymnobucco calvus...
(4 species) - Genus StactolaemaStactolaemaStactolaema is a bird genus in the African barbet family which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae.It contains the following species:* White-eared Barbet, Stactolaema leucotis...
(4 species) - Genus Pogoniulus - tinkerbirds (9 species)
- Genus Buccanodon - Yellow-spotted Barbet
- Genus TricholaemaTricholaemaTricholaema is a bird genus in the African barbet family which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae.It contains the following species:* Hairy-breasted Barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta...
(6 species) - Genus LybiusLybiusLybius is a genus of African barbets from the family Lybiidae . This genus ranges across sub-Saharan Africa.It contains the following species:* Banded Barbet, Lybius undatus...
(12 species)
Subfamily Trachyphoninae
- Genus TrachyphonusTrachyphonusThe African terrestrial barbets are the bird genus Trachyphonus in the African barbet family which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae...
(6 species)
It is not entirely resolved whether the Early to Middle Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
genus Capitonides
Capitonides
Capitonides is an extinct genus of piciform from the Middle Miocene of southern Germany. Only one species are recorded for genus, Capitonites europaeus.. Carroll assigned the genus to family Capitonidae....
from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
belongs to this family or the Asian barbets (now Megalaimidae). Indeed, given that the prehistoric birds somewhat resembled a primitive toucan (without these birds' present autapomorphies), they might occupy a more basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
position among the barbet-toucan clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
altogether. On the other hand they show some similarities to Trachyphonus
Trachyphonus
The African terrestrial barbets are the bird genus Trachyphonus in the African barbet family which was formerly included in the Capitonidae and sometimes in the Ramphastidae...
in particular and have even been placed into this genus, but this move is not widely accepted.
"CMC 152", a distal carpometacarpus
Carpometacarpus
The carpometacarpus is the fusion of the carpal and metacarpal bone, essentially a single fused bone between the wrist and the knuckles. It is a smallish bone in most birds, generally flattened and with a large hole in the middle. In flightless birds, however, its shape may be slightly different,...
similar to that of barbets and found at the Middle Miocene locality of Grive-Saint-Alban (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was considered to differ from Capitonides in the initial description, being closer to extant (presumably Old World) barbets. This fossil is sometimes lumped into Trachyphonus too; in this case it may have more merit.
Supposed fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
remains of Late Miocene
Late Miocene
The Late Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch....
Pogoniulus were found at Kohfidisch
Kohfidisch
Kohfidisch is a town in the district of Oberwart in Burgenland in Austria....
(Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) but are not yet thoroughly studied. It is not clear whether they belong to the extant genus but given the late date this may well be so.