Urocolius

Taxobox
name = "Urocolius"

---

image_width = 200px
image_caption = Blue-naped Mousebird "Urocolius macrourus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
subclassis = Neornithes
infraclassis = Neognathae
superordo = Neoaves
ordo = Coliiformes
familia = Coliidae
subfamilia = Urocoliinae
subfamilia_authority =
genus = "Urocolius"
genus_authority = Bonaparte, 1854
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = "Urocolius indicus"
"Urocolius macrourus"

"Urocolius" is a small genus of mousebirds. It consists of two species which inhabit Eastern and Southern Africa:
* Blue-naped Mousebird, "Urocolius macrourus"
* Red-faced Mousebird, "Urocolius indicus"

They are typically about 32 cm (13 in.) long omnivorous birds, eating insects, small millipedes and plants.

"Urocolius" archiaci", "U." consobrinus" and "U." paludicola" are 3 taxa described from fragmentary Early Miocene remains found at Saint-Gérand-le-Puy in France. Their taxonomic history is convoluted, being initially described as woodpeckers and variously merged and split. Today it is believed that they at least 2 belong into a prehistoric genus "Limnatornis", but sometimes they are all united under the first of the 3 names although it is not clear with what justification. The same rationales presumably apply for undescribed but similar remains found in Late Miocene strata af Kohfidisch (Austria).Mlíkovský (2002)]

Footnotes

References

* (2002): "Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe". Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 [http://www.nm.cz/download/JML-18-2002-CBE.pdf PDF fulltext]

External links

* [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=554670 ITIS]