Ninox

Ninox
Ninox
Morepork
Ninox (novaeseelandiae) novaeseelandiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Ninox
Hodgson, 1837


Ninox is a genus of owls comprising about 20 species found in Asia and Australasia. Many species are known as hawk owls or boobooks. Note that the Northern Hawk-Owl Surnia ulula is not a member of this genus.

The species of Ninox are:

The fossil owls "Otus" wintershofensis and "Strix" brevis, both from the Early or Middle Miocene of Wintershof West, Germany, are close to this genus; the latter was sometimes explicitly placed in Ninox (Olson 1985) but is now in Intutula. "Strix" edwardsi from the Late Miocene of La Grive St. Alban, France, might also belong into this group[citation needed].

Moluccan Hawk-owl (N. squamipila) (left); Timor Boobook (N. boobook fusca) (right)

In Human Culture

  • "NINOX" is an Australian Army project to develop night vision goggles; it is named after Ninox strenua.

References

  • Olson, Storrs L. (1985): IX.C. Strigiformes. In: Farner, D.S.; King, J.R. & Parkes, Kenneth C. (eds.): Avian Biology 8: 129-132. Academic Press, New York.