- Source: Stilt-owl
The stilt-owls (Grallistrix) is an extinct genus of true owls which contains four species, all of which lived on the Hawaiian Islands.
Grallistrix can be loosely translated as "owl on stilts". The genus received this name due to the long legs and terrestrial habits which they evolved in the absence of mammalian predators on their island homes. They fed on smaller birds such as Hawaiian honeycreepers. They were also able to fly, but likely did most of their hunting on the ground, filling the niches occupied by medium-sized predatory mammals elsewhere.
The owls were never seen alive by scientists and are known only from subfossil bones.
Species
Kaua‘i stilt-owl, Grallistrix auceps
Maui stilt-owl, Grallistrix erdmani
Moloka‘i stilt-owl, Grallistrix geleches
O‘ahu stilt-owl, Grallistrix orion
See also
Tyto pollens
Ornimegalonyx
List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species
List of extinct bird species since 1500
List of fossil bird genera
List of extinct animals
Flightless birds
References
Kay, E. Alison (1994). A Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands: Selected Readings II. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1659-5.
Ziegler, Alan C. (2002). Hawaiian Natural History, Ecology, and Evolution. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-2190-4.
External links
http://www.extinct.minks-lang.de/7voegel/a.birdsfamilien/strigidae1.htm
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Stilt-owl
- True owl
- Owl
- List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species
- Pueo
- Réunion scops owl
- Mahaulepu Beach
- Timeline of extinctions in the Holocene
- Banded stilt
- Great Maui crake
