Canarian houbara
| Canarian houbara | |
|---|---|
| |
| On Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Otidiformes |
| Family: | Otididae |
| Genus: | Chlamydotis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. u. fuertaventurae
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae | |
The Canarian houbara (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae) is a large bird in the bustard family. It is a houbara bustard subspecies which is endemic to the eastern Canary archipelago, in Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean, where it is a scarce and threatened non-migratory resident. It is the animal symbol of the island of Fuerteventura.[3]
Taxonomy
The Canarian houbara is one of three subspecies of the houbara bustard. Archaeological evidence indicates that it has been present in the Canary Islands for 130–170,000 years. However, genetic data point to a more recent separation of C. u. fuertaventurae from the nominate subspecies around 20–25,000 years ago. It suggests that there was an initial colonisation of the Canary Islands about 130,000 years ago, followed by a second colonisation 19-30 000 years ago, with subsequent isolation until today.[4]
Description
The Canarian houbara is distinguished from the other two subspecies by its smaller size, less sandy colouring, and darker and more extensive markings on the back.[5] It is the largest bird native to the Canary Islands.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Houbaras are restricted to the islands of Fuerteventura, Lobos, Lanzarote and Graciosa, though it is uncertain as to whether they continue to exist on Lobos. In the past, they also inhabited the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, where they are now extinct.[7] Annual rainfall in their range is less than 140 mm (5.5 in) while mean monthly temperatures range between 16 °C (61 °F) in January–February and 24 °C (75 °F) in August–September.[8] They inhabit semi-arid plains, rocky hills and immobile dunes, sparsely vegetated with bushes and grasses. They will sometimes feed in farmland in the early morning and at dusk, but avoid human settlements, cornfields, forests and lava flows.[5]
Behaviour
Breeding
Outside the
Feeding
The birds are omnivorous, feeding on the ground and consuming a variety of
Status and conservation
The Action Plan published in 1995 estimated the total population of Canarian houbaras at about 700–750 birds, comprising 300–350 on Fuerteventura and Lobos, and 400 on Lanzarote and Graciosa.
See also
References
- ^ "Conservation Status of Birds in Spain : 2010" (PDF). Datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ Rothschild, W.; & Hartert, E. (1894). On a new Bustard from the Palearctic Region. Novitates zoologicae 1: 689.
- ^ Símbolos de la naturaleza para las Islas Canarias [Natural Symbols for the Canary Islands] (Ley 7/1991) (in Spanish). Vol. 151. 30 April 1991. pp. 20946–20497 – via BOE.
- S2CID 25591653.
- ^ a b c d e f Heredia, Borja. (Compiler). (1995). Action Plan for the Houbara Bustard in the Canary Islands. BirdLife International. Retrieved on 16 December 2008.
- ^ "houbara bustard in the Canaries: A guide to Birds in Spain". Iberianature.com. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Un nuevo yacimiento de vertebrados fósiles en Tenerife (Islas Canarias)" (PDF). Vulcanospeleology.org. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ a b Martin, Aurelio; Lorenzo, Juan Antonio; Hernández, Miguel Angel; Nogales, Manuel; Medina, Félix Manuel; Delgado, Juan Domingo; Naranjo, José Julián; Quilis, Vicente & Delgado, Guillermo (1997). "Distribution, status and conservation of the Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae Rothschild & Hartert, 1894, in the Canary Islands, November – December 1994". Ardeola. 44 (1): 61–69.
- .