Pnoepyga
Encyclopedia
Pnoepyga is a genus
of wren-babbler endemic to southern and south eastern Asia. The genus contains four species. The genus has long been placed in the babbler family Timaliidae. A 2009 study of the DNA
of the families Timaliidae and the Old World warblers (Sylviidae
) found no support for the placement of the genus in either family, prompting the authors to erect a new monogeneric family, the Pnoepygidae.
This genus of diminutive Old World babblers has a mostly montane distribution in South and South East Asia. The Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler
is found in the mountainous areas of north India eastwards to southern China and northern Vietnam. The Taiwan Wren-babbler
is endemic to Taiwan
, and similarly the Nepal Wren-babbler
has a resricted distribution, mostly occurring in Nepal (and also slightly into India). The most widespread species is the Pygmy Wren-babbler
, which occurs from China and India south through Southeast Asia into the Malay Peninsula
and Indonesia
as far as Flores
and Timor
.
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 wren-babbler endemic to southern and south eastern Asia. The genus contains four species. The genus has long been placed in the babbler family Timaliidae. A 2009 study of the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
of the families Timaliidae and the Old World warblers (Sylviidae
Sylviidae
Sylviidae is a family of passerine birds that was part of an assemblage known as the Old World warblers. The family was formerly a wastebin taxon with over 400 species of bird in over 70 genera. The family was poorly defined with many characteristics shared with other families...
) found no support for the placement of the genus in either family, prompting the authors to erect a new monogeneric family, the Pnoepygidae.
This genus of diminutive Old World babblers has a mostly montane distribution in South and South East Asia. The Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler
Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler
The Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler is a species of passerine bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae.It is found in India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. The Taiwan Wren-babbler was once treated as a subspecies of this species.Its natural habitat is subtropical moist...
is found in the mountainous areas of north India eastwards to southern China and northern Vietnam. The Taiwan Wren-babbler
Taiwan Wren-babbler
The Taiwan Wren-babbler, , is a species of passerine bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae. The species is endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was treated for a long time as a subspecies of the Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler. The species has not been evaluated by the IUCN but is reported to...
is endemic to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and similarly the Nepal Wren-babbler
Nepal Wren-babbler
The Nepal Wren-babbler is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family.It is found in India and Nepal.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
has a resricted distribution, mostly occurring in Nepal (and also slightly into India). The most widespread species is the Pygmy Wren-babbler
Pygmy Wren-babbler
The Pygmy Wren-babbler is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, which occurs from China and India south through Southeast Asia into the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
as far as Flores
Flores
Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an island arc with an estimated area of 14,300 km² extending east from the Java island of Indonesia. The population was 1.831.000 in the 2010 census and the largest town is Maumere. Flores is Portuguese for "flowers".Flores is located east of Sumbawa...
and Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
.
Species
It contains the following species:- Scaly-breasted Wren-babblerScaly-breasted Wren-babblerThe Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler is a species of passerine bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae.It is found in India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. The Taiwan Wren-babbler was once treated as a subspecies of this species.Its natural habitat is subtropical moist...
(Pnoepyga albiventer) - Taiwan Wren-babblerTaiwan Wren-babblerThe Taiwan Wren-babbler, , is a species of passerine bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae. The species is endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was treated for a long time as a subspecies of the Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler. The species has not been evaluated by the IUCN but is reported to...
(Pnoepyga formosana) - Nepal Wren-babblerNepal Wren-babblerThe Nepal Wren-babbler is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family.It is found in India and Nepal.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
(Pnoepyga immaculata) - Pygmy Wren-babblerPygmy Wren-babblerThe Pygmy Wren-babbler is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam....
(Pnoepyga pusilla)