Electron (bird)

Taxobox
name = "Electron"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Blue-crowned Motmot ("Momotus momota")
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Coraciiformes
familia = Motmotidae
genus = "Electron"
genus_authority = Gistel, 1848
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "E. carinatum"
"E. platyrhynchum"

"Electron" is a genus of the motmots, a family of Neotropical near passerine birds. The genus has two species:

* Keel-billed Motmot, "Electron carinatum"
* Broad-billed Motmot, "Electron platyrhynchum"

Both inhabit humid evergreen tropical forest. Both occur in Central America, and the Broad-billed Motmot occurs in a large region of South America as well.

They are distinguished from other motmots by their much wider bills. The rackets on their tails are less dramatic than those of many other motmot species and may be absent. The species are very similar except in adult plumage (but the adult Keel-billed resembles the juvenile Broad-billed). A mixed pair apparently courting has been observed (Howell and Webb 1995).

The name "Electron" is a Latinization of the Ancient Greek word for amber, and can mean "bright" in scientific names (Jaeger 1978); the amber-colored eyes of the Keel-billed Motmot (Howell and Webb 1995) may be the connection.fact|date=August 2007 The name was given 46 years before an elementary particle was named electron.

References

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* Peterson, Alan P. (Editor). 1999. [http://www.zoonomen.net "Zoological Nomenclature Resource" (Zoonomen)] . Accessed 2007-08-17.