Feather ultrastructure and skeletal morphology as taxonomic characters in African sunbirds (Nectariniidae) and sugarbirds (Promeropidae)

Journal of African Zoology

Volumn 110, Issue 5, 1996, Pages 321-331

  Farquhar, Michael R ^a   Lorenz, Mark ^a   Rayner, Joanna L ^a   Craig, Adrian J F K ^a  

^a RHODES UNIVERSITY   (South Africa)

Author keywords

Aves; Feather ultrastructure; Nectariniidae; Promerops; Skeleton; Systematics

Indexed keywords

EID: 0344651329     PISSN: 07767943     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (18)

1. Bock, W. J. 1985. Relationships of the sugarbird (Promerops; Passeriformes, ? Meliphagidae). Proc. Int. Symp. Afr. Vert., Bonn: 348-374.
2. Brom, T. G. 1986. Microscopic identification of feathers and feather fragments of Palearctic birds. Bijdr. Dierk. 56:181-204.
3. Craig, A. J. F. K. & Hartley, A. H. 1985. The arrangement and structure of feather melanin granules as a taxonomic character in African starlings (Sturnidae). Auk, 102: 629-632.
4. Day, M.G. 1966. Identification of hair and feather remains in the gut and faeces of stoats and weasels. J. Zool. (Lond.) 148: 201-217.
5. Delacour, J. 1944. A revision of the family Nectariniidae (sunbirds). Zoologica, N. Y. 29: 17-38.
6. Dorst, J., Gastaldi, G., Hagege, R. & Jaquemart, J. 1974. Différents aspects des barbules de quelques Paradisaeidés observés sur coupes en microscopie électronique. Relations avec les phénomènes d'interférences. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 278D: 285-290.
7. Durrer, H. & Viller, W. 1962. Schillerfarben der Nektarvögel (Nectariniidae). Revue Suisse Zool. 69: 801-814.
8. Dyck, J. 1987. Structure and light reflection of green feathers of fruit doves (Ptilinopus spp.) and an imperial pigeon (Ducula concinna). Biologiske Skrifter, 30: 1-43.
9. Elsässer, T. 1925. Die Struktur schillernder Feder. J. Ornithol. 73: 337-389.
10. Howard, R. & Moore, A. 1984. A complete checklist of the birds of the world. Macmillan, London, 732 pp.
11. Olson, S.L. & Ames, P.L. 1984. Promerops as a thrush, and its implications for the evolution of nectarivory in birds. Ostrich, 56: 213-218.
12. Perremans, K., De Bont, A. & Ollevier, F. 1992. A study of featherprints by scanning electron microscopy. Belg. J. Zool. 122: 113-121.
13. Sibley, C. G. & Ahlquist, J. E. 1974. The relationships of the African sugarbirds (Promerops). Ostrich, 45: 22-30.
14. _. 1990. Phylogeny and classification of birds. Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 976 pp.
15. Sibley, C. G. & Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1,111 pp.
16. Skead, C. J. 1967. The sunbirds of southern Africa also the sugarbirds, the white-eyes and the Spotted Creeper. A. A. Balkema, Cape Town & Amsterdam, 351 pp.
17. Wolters, H. E. 1975-1982. Die Vogelarten der Erde. Paul Parey, Hamburg, 781 pp.
18. _. 1977. Die Gattungen der Nectariniidae (Aves, Passeriformes). Bonn. zool. Beitr. 28: 82-101.