Periparus
Encyclopedia
Periparus is a genus
of bird
s in the tit family that, as defined here, consists of the following species
:
All occur in Asia
; the Coal Tit also has a wide range in Europe
and North Africa
. These birds have white cheeks and most have a tufted head.
Most authorities consider Periparus a subgenus of the genus Parus, but the Handbook of the Birds of the World
considers it distinct (del Hoyo et al. 2007), as does the American Ornithologists' Union
. This is supported by mtDNA (cytochrome b
) sequence analysis
(Gill et al., 2005).
The Yellow-bellied Tit
of China
and the Palawan Tit
and Elegant Tit
of the Philippines
are sometimes placed in a separate genus, Pardaliparus
.
To add to the uncertainty, the Elegant Tit is probably paraphyletic
and the Coal Tit may be. The melanolophus race of the Coal Tit, called the Spot-winged Tit or Black-crested Tit, may be a separate species, in which case other races of the Coal Tit would be as well.
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...
of bird
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...
s in the tit family that, as defined here, consists of the following 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...
:
- Rufous-naped TitRufous-naped TitThe Rufous-naped Tit , also known as the Black-breasted Tit or Dark-grey Tit, is an Asian songbird species in the tit and chickadee family . It was sometimes considered conspecific with the Rufous-vented Tit The Rufous-naped Tit (Periparus rufonuchalis), also known as the Black-breasted Tit or...
, Black-breasted Tit or Dark-grey Tit, Periparus rufonuchalis - Rufous-vented TitRufous-vented TitThe Rufous-vented Tit is an Asian songbird species in the tit and chickadee family . Some of its subspecies were formerly assigned to its western relative the Rufous-naped Tit , or these two were considered entirely conspecific...
, Periparus rubidiventris - Palawan TitPalawan TitThe Palawan Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae.It is endemic to Palawan and the smaller islands of Calauit and Balabac in the Philippines. Within its range it is found in lowland forest habitats, including secondary forests, forest edge, swamps as well as submontane forest. It...
, Periparus amabilis - Yellow-bellied TitYellow-bellied TitThe Yellow-bellied Tit is a species of bird in the Paridae family.It is endemic to China. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Periparus venustulus - Elegant TitElegant TitThe Elegant Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae. The species was formerly included in the much larger genus Parus, and some authorities have suggested that along with the closely related Palawan Tit and Yellow-bellied Tit it should be placed in a new genus, Pardaliparus...
, Periparus elegans - Coal TitCoal TitThe Coal Tit, Periparus ater, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate to subtropical Eurasia and northern Africa. The Spot-winged Tit The Coal Tit, Periparus ater, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a...
, Periparus ater
All occur in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
; the Coal Tit also has a wide range in 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...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. These birds have white cheeks and most have a tufted head.
Most authorities consider Periparus a subgenus of the genus Parus, but the Handbook of the Birds of the World
Handbook of the Birds of the World
The Handbook of the Birds of the World is a multi-volume series produced by the Spanish publishing house Lynx Edicions. It is the first handbook to cover every known living species of bird. The series is edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal and David A Christie.So far, 15...
considers it distinct (del Hoyo et al. 2007), as does the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
. This is supported by mtDNA (cytochrome b
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...
) sequence analysis
Sequence analysis
In bioinformatics, the term sequence analysis refers to the process of subjecting a DNA, RNA or peptide sequence to any of a wide range of analytical methods to understand its features, function, structure, or evolution. Methodologies used include sequence alignment, searches against biological...
(Gill et al., 2005).
The Yellow-bellied Tit
Yellow-bellied Tit
The Yellow-bellied Tit is a species of bird in the Paridae family.It is endemic to China. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the Palawan Tit
Palawan Tit
The Palawan Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae.It is endemic to Palawan and the smaller islands of Calauit and Balabac in the Philippines. Within its range it is found in lowland forest habitats, including secondary forests, forest edge, swamps as well as submontane forest. It...
and Elegant Tit
Elegant Tit
The Elegant Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae. The species was formerly included in the much larger genus Parus, and some authorities have suggested that along with the closely related Palawan Tit and Yellow-bellied Tit it should be placed in a new genus, Pardaliparus...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
are sometimes placed in a separate genus, Pardaliparus
Pardaliparus
Pardaliparus is a genus of birds in the tit family that is recognized by some authorities, such as the Handbook of the Birds of the Worlds Internet Bird Collection . It is often, as here, considered part of the genus Periparus...
.
To add to the uncertainty, the Elegant Tit is probably paraphyletic
Paraphyly
A group of taxa is said to be paraphyletic if the group consists of all the descendants of a hypothetical closest common ancestor minus one or more monophyletic groups of descendants...
and the Coal Tit may be. The melanolophus race of the Coal Tit, called the Spot-winged Tit or Black-crested Tit, may be a separate species, in which case other races of the Coal Tit would be as well.