Modulatrix
Encyclopedia
Modulatrix is a genus of bird
endemic to the mountains of south eastern Africa
. The genus is something of a taxonomic enigma. It has been placed with the Old World babbler
s and the Old World flycatcher
s. Recent molecular studies have suggested that the two species are part of a clade that includes the sugarbird
s. The genus contains two species, although the Dapple-throat
is sometimes treated as belonging to a separate genus, Arcantor.
It contains the following species:
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...
endemic to the mountains of south eastern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The genus is something of a taxonomic enigma. It has been placed with the Old World babbler
Old World babbler
The Old World babblers or timaliids are a large family of mostly Old World passerine birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent...
s and the Old World flycatcher
Old World flycatcher
The Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae is a large family of small passerine birds mostly restricted to the Old World. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.-Characteristics:...
s. Recent molecular studies have suggested that the two species are part of a clade that includes the sugarbird
Sugarbird
The sugarbirds are a small family, Promeropidae, of passerine birds which are restricted to southern Africa. The two species of sugarbird make up one of only two bird families restricted entirely to southern Africa, the other being the rock-jumpers Chaetopidae...
s. The genus contains two species, although the Dapple-throat
Dapple-throat
The Dappled Mountain-robin or Dapple-throat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
is sometimes treated as belonging to a separate genus, Arcantor.
It contains the following species:
- Dapple-throatDapple-throatThe Dappled Mountain-robin or Dapple-throat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
(Modulatrix orostruthus) - Spot-throatSpot-throatThe Spot-throat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
(Modulatrix stictigula)