Biology
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The least terrestrial of the ground roller species, the short-legged ground roller spends the majority of its time perched on branches 2 to15 metres above ground searching for prey (3), 90 percent of which is invertebrates. The remaining ten percent is made up of small vertebrates, such as frogs, geckos, lizards and snakes (2).
Nesting in tree cavities and the root masses of epiphytes, the short-legged ground roller re-nests rapidly after natural nest failure. Pairs occupy neighbouring territories in suitable habitat, with the home range of one pair found to be 19 hectares (3). Observation of one pair of short-legged ground rollers found the nesting period to be around 30 days (5).
Conservation
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The Birdlife International Madagascar Programme, founded in 1997, implemented project ZICOMA – Important Bird Areas in Madagascar (IBAs). This was a nationwide survey of key bird sites, and in response to ZICOMA, numerous site conservation projects were set up (6). The short-legged ground roller is now well protected under this programme, being recorded in 23 IBAs, nine National Parks, two Strict Reserves, three Special Reserves, and six Classified Forests (3). It is also hoped that a national bird conservation organisation will be set up to become the BirdLife partner in Madagascar (6). In the future, conservation measures will focus on preventing habitat loss, particularly via the use of fires by subsistence farmers (3).
Description
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This secretive, arboreal bird is the largest of the five species of rainforest ground rollers. It often appears almost immobile, perching motionless for long periods (up to an hour at a time), making it difficult to find (2) (3). With short legs, large head and puffy throat, it has a plump appearance (2). The upperparts are mid green-brown with a purple iridescent colour to the rear crown and nape, while the underparts are much paler in comparison (3). The cheeks and throat are maroon-brown, speckled with white spots and bordered by a wide, white, crescent-shaped breast band (2). The long tail has white tips on the outer feathers and there are fine white tips to the wing-coverts (3). The bill is strong, slightly hooked and dark brown (2) (3). The territorial call of the short-legged ground roller can be heard in early morning or evening, as a long series of single 'bop' notes repeated every one to two seconds for around four minutes (2) (3). In contrast, the contact call of this species is a much quieter 'kroo-kroo' or 'poop', heard during the day (2).
Habitat
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Largely found in low to mid altitude, undisturbed primary forest, the short-legged ground roller prefers the darker, more humid areas of the rainforest. These areas tend to have moderate ground cover of herbaceous, mossy vegetation and deep leaf litter.
At the upper part of their altitudinal range, the short-legged ground roller is more likely to be found in larger trees (3), and is generally absent from disturbed or degraded habitat (2).
Range
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The short-legged ground roller, like the other four ground roller species, is endemic to Madagascar (3). It has been recorded in eastern forested areas (4), from Daraina forest in the north to Andohahela in the south, and is the most localised of the rainforest ground rollers (3).
Status
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Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Threats
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The biggest threat to the short-legged ground roller is the loss of its preferred habitat. Forest on the eastern plain of Madagascar has already been degraded, resulting in habitat which is unsuitable for this species of ground roller. One of the main causes of habitat degradation is slash-and-burn cultivation by subsistence farmers. The remaining suitable habitat is now under threat from further degradation, caused by the expanding human population and commercial logging. In particular, lower altitude sites of habitat, which are preferred by this bird, are thought to become increasingly threatened over the next decade (3). In addition, the short-legged ground roller is also threatened by hunting (2).
Short-legged ground roller
provided by wikipedia EN
The short-legged ground roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) is a species of bird in the ground roller family Brachypteraciidae. It is the only living species in the genus Brachypteracias and is endemic to Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Taxonomy and systematics
The short-legged ground roller is the only extant species in the genus Brachypteracias, although a fossil species, Brachypteracias langrandi, has been described.[2] The short-legged ground roller is more arboreal than other ground rollers, and may represent the ancestral form of the family.[3] The genus Brachypteracias once included the scaly ground roller, but a 2001 study of the DNA of the family found that the two are not closely related. The same study found that the short-legged ground roller is basal in the family.[4]
The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek brakhupteros for short-winged.[5] The species name leptosomus is also Greek and derived from leptos for delicate and sōma for body.[6]
Distribution and habitat
The short-legged ground roller is endemic to Madagascar, where is occurs in the northern part of the island through the eastern coast to the southern end of the island. Its natural habitat is humid tropical moist lowland forests, from sea-level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft), although it is commoner at lower altitudes. It is almost exclusively found in mature closed forest with large trees but can also be found on slopes with numerous saplings, and is rare in disturbed forest.[7]
Description
The throat of this species is puffy
The short-legged ground roller has a large head and bill, a puffy throat. It is the largest forest ground roller, and is stouter than the other species (except for the scaly ground roller).[3] It measures 30 to 38 cm (12–15 in) in length and weighs 154–217 g (5.4–7.7 oz). Where sexed individuals have been weighed the males were heavier, but the sample size was small. Females are smaller in other body measurements, for example wing chord length, which is 138 to 143 mm (5.4–5.6 in) in females compared to 140 to 152 mm (5.5–6.0 in) in males.[7] As the name suggests the legs are short for the family, but contrary to its generic name the wings are the longest in the family, making this the most arboreal species, but is still not a strong flier.[3]
Like the other members of the family, the plumage is cryptic.[3]
Behaviour
The short-legged ground roller is a secretive species that has been little studied. Everything that is known about the behaviour of the species has come from a single systematic study of a single pair in Masoala National Park and from incidental observations of other birds.[8]
Status and conservation
The short-legged ground roller is considered to be fairly common in its natural habitat. Nevertheless it is considered to be threatened with extinction due to the rapid loss of its habitat to slash and burn for subsistence agriculture. Its habitat is also considered to be threatened by climate change. Modelling of habitat change due to climate change predicts that the species may lose up to 62% of its current habitat.[9] The species is also hunted.[3]
References
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^ BirdLife International (2016). "Brachypteracias leptosomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22682931A92969638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682931A92969638.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
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^ Goodman, Steven M. (January 2000). "A description of a new species of (Family Brachypteraciidae) from the Holocene of Madagascar". Ostrich. 71 (1–2): 318–322. doi:10.1080/00306525.2000.9639941. S2CID 83685435.
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^ a b c d e Langrand, O. (2017). Ground-rollers (Brachypteraciidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52276 on 20 March 2017).
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^ Kirchman, Jeremy J.; Hackett, Shannon J.; Goodman, Steven M.; Bates, John M. (2001). "Phylogeny and Systematics of Ground Rollers (Brachypteraciidae) of Madagascar". The Auk. 118 (4): 849. doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118[0849:PASOGR]2.0.CO;2.
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^ Jobling, J. A. (2017). Brachypteracias in Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology. In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2017). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from www.hbw.com).
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^ Jobling, J. A. (2017). leptosomus in Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology. In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2017). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from www.hbw.com).
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^ a b Langrand, O. & Kirwan, G.M. (2017). Short-legged Ground-roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55865 on 20 March 2017).
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^ Thorstrom, Russell; Lind, Johan (3 April 2008). "First nest description, breeding, ranging and foraging behaviour of the Short-legged Ground-Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus in Madagascar". Ibis. 141 (4): 569–576. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1999.tb07364.x.
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^ Andriamasimanana, Rado H.; Cameron, Alison (April 2013). "Predicting the impacts of climate change on the distribution of threatened forest-restricted birds in Madagascar". Ecology and Evolution. 3 (4): 763–769. doi:10.1002/ece3.497. PMC 3631392. PMID 23610622.
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Short-legged ground roller: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The short-legged ground roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) is a species of bird in the ground roller family Brachypteraciidae. It is the only living species in the genus Brachypteracias and is endemic to Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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