Pseudominla
Encyclopedia
Pseudominla is a bird
genus
in the Old World babbler
family
(Timaliidae). It was formerly contained in Alcippe
. But like its close relative Schoeniparus
which also was recently separated from Alcippe, among the Timaliidae it is not very closely related to the alcippes. Meanwhile, the "true" fulvettas (now genus Fulvetta
) have turned out to be actually Old World warbler
s.
Therefore the common name "fulvettas" is misleading for Pseudominla, but no consensus has been reached on what to use instead. For the sake of simplicity, "pseudominlas" might be used, referencing the fact that these birds somewhat resemble the true minlas (genera Chrysominla, Minla
and Siva
) but are not particularly closely related to this group of Old World babblers.
Pseudominla 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...
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...
in 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...
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...
(Timaliidae). It was formerly contained in Alcippe
Alcippe (bird)
Alcippe is a genus of birds in the Timaliidae family. It used to be a catchall for the "fulvettas", but has been recently split into 5 independent genera: Alcippe, Schoeniparus, Fulvetta, Pseudominla and Lioparus....
. But like its close relative Schoeniparus
Schoeniparus
Schoeniparus is a genus of bird in the Timaliidae family.It contains the following species:* Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Schoeniparus rufogularis* Dusky Fulvetta, Schoeniparus brunnea* Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Schoeniparus dubia-References:...
which also was recently separated from Alcippe, among the Timaliidae it is not very closely related to the alcippes. Meanwhile, the "true" fulvettas (now genus Fulvetta
Fulvetta
Fulvetta is a songbird genus. Originally proposed in 1877, it was recently reestablished for the typical fulvettas, which were long included with their presumed relatives in the Timaliidae genus Alcippe...
) have turned out to be actually Old World warbler
Old World warbler
The "Old World Warblers" is the name used to describe a large group of birds formerly grouped together in the bird family Sylviidae. The family held over 400 species in over 70 genera, and were the source of much taxonomic confusion. Two families were split out initially, the cisticolas into...
s.
Therefore the common name "fulvettas" is misleading for Pseudominla, but no consensus has been reached on what to use instead. For the sake of simplicity, "pseudominlas" might be used, referencing the fact that these birds somewhat resemble the true minlas (genera Chrysominla, Minla
Minla
The bird genus Minla of the family Timaliidae was commonly used for three, most likely unrelated species. The genus is probably best split, with only the Red-tailed Minla The bird genus Minla (from minla, Nepali for M. ignotincta) of the family Timaliidae was commonly used for three, most likely...
and Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
) but are not particularly closely related to this group of Old World babblers.
Pseudominla contains 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...
:
- Gold-fronted FulvettaGold-fronted FulvettaThe Golden-fronted Fulvetta , also known as the Gold-fronted Fulvetta, is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Pseudominla variegaticeps - tentatively placed here - Yellow-throated FulvettaYellow-throated FulvettaThe Yellow-throated Fulvetta is a bird species of the Old World babbler family . Its common name is misleading, because it is not a close relative of the "typical" fulvettas, which are now in the genus Fulvetta and are actually Sylviidae.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos,...
, Pseudominla cinerea - Rufous-winged FulvettaRufous-winged FulvettaThe Rufous-winged Fulvetta is a bird species of the Old World babbler family . Its common name is misleading, because it is not a close relative of the "typical" fulvettas, which are now in the genus Fulvetta and are actually Sylviidae.The Black-crowned Fulvetta The Rufous-winged Fulvetta...
, Pseudominla castaneceps - Black-crowned FulvettaBlack-crowned FulvettaThe Black-crowned Fulvetta is a bird species until recently counted as sub-species of the Rufous-winged Fulvetta.-References:...
, Pseudominla klossi - formerly included in P. castaneceps