Apalis

Taxobox
name = "Apalis"

---

image_caption = Chestnut-throated Apalis
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Cisticolidae
genus = "Apalis"
genus_authority = Swainson, 1833
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See species list

The apalises are small passerine birds belonging to the genus "Apalis". They are found in forest, woodlands and scrub across most parts of sub-Saharan Africa.cite book | last = Sinclair | first = Ian | coauthors = Ryan, Peter | title=Birds of Africa south of the Sahara | publisher=Struik | year=2003 | pages = p. 512, 540 | id=ISBN 1-868-72857-9] They are slender birds with long tails and have a slender bill for catching insects. They are typically brown, grey or green above and several species have brightly coloured underparts. Males and females are usually similar in appearance but the males are sometimes brighter.

Apalises were traditionally classified in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae but are now commonly placed, together with several other groups of mainly African warblers, in a separate family Cisticolidae.cite web | last = Roberson | first = Don | title = Cisticolas & Allies Cisticolidae | url = http://montereybay.com/creagrus/cisticolas.html | access date = 2007-03-29 ]

There are at least 21 species of apalis, the exact number varies according to differing authorities. The African Tailorbird and Long-billed Tailorbird were formerly considered to be apalises but are now often placed either with the tailorbirds ("Orthotomus") or in their own genus "Artisornis". The Red-fronted Warbler or Red-faced Apalis has also been moved into a different genus, either "Spiloptila" or "Urorhipis".cite web | last = Lepage | first = Denis | title = Red-faced Apalis (Urorhipis rufifrons) (Rüppell, 1840) | url = http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?pg=summary&lang=EN&id=80C6EC01BDB36D0E&ts=1175160286406 | access date = 2007-03-29 ] . Further shuffling may be necessary as a recent study [cite journal|last=Nguembock|first=B|coauthors=Fjeldsa, J.; Tillier, A.; Pasquet, E.|year=2007|title=A phylogeny for the Cisticolidae (Aves: Passeriformes) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, and a re-interpretation of an unique nest-building specialization|url=|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|issn=|volume=42|issue=1|pages=272–286|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2006.07.008] found the genus to be polyphyletic with two species (Black-collared and Ruwenzori Apalis') only distantly related to the other three tested. Future studies may result in further division of the genus.

pecies list

* Black-collared Apalis, "Apalis pulchra"
* Ruwenzori Apalis or Collared Apalis, "Apalis ruwenzorii"
* Bar-throated Apalis, "Apalis thoracica"
** Taita Apalis, "Apalis (thoracica) fuscigularis"
** Namuli Apalis, "Apalis (thoracica) lynesi"
** Yellow-throated Apalis, "Apalis (thoracica) flavigularis"
* Black-capped Apalis, "Apalis nigriceps"
* Black-throated Apalis, "Apalis jacksoni"
* White-winged Apalis, "Apalis chariessa"
* Masked Apalis or Lowland Masked Apalis, "Apalis binotata"
* Black-faced Apalis or Mountain Masked Apalis, "Apalis personata"
* Yellow-breasted Apalis, "Apalis flavida"
** Brown-tailed Apalis, "Apalis (flavida) viridiceps"
* Rudd's Apalis, "Apalis ruddi"
* Sharpe's Apalis, "Apalis sharpii"
* Buff-throated Apalis, "Apalis rufogularis"
** Kungwe Apalis, "Apalis (rufogularis) argentea"
* Bamenda Apalis, "Apalis bamendae"
* Gosling's Apalis, "Apalis goslingi"
* Chestnut-throated Apalis, "Apalis porphyrolaema"
** Kabobo Apalis, "Apalis (porphyrolaema) kaboboensis"
* Chapin's Apalis or Chestnut-headed Apalis, "Apalis chapini"
* Black-headed Apalis, "Apalis melanocephala"
* Chirinda Apalis, "Apalis chirindensis"
* Grey Apalis, "Apalis cinerea"
* Brown-headed Apalis, "Apalis alticola"
* Karamoja Apalis, "Apalis karamojae"

Bibliography

*Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). Pp. 378-492 in del Hoyo J., Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (2006) "Handbook of the Birds of the World". Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers" Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ISBN 978-84-96553-06-4

References