| Acridotheres | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Common myna,Acridotheres tristis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Acridotheres Vieillot, 1816 |
| Type species | |
| Paradisea tristis[1] Linnaeus, 1766 | |
| Species | |
11; see text | |
Acridotheres is agenus ofstarlings, the "typical"mynas, which are tropical members of thefamily Sturnidae.
The genusAcridotheres was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologistLouis Vieillot.[2] Thetype species was subsequently designated asParadisea tristisLinnaeus, thecommon myna.[3] The nameAcridotheres combines theAncient Greekakridos meaning "locust" with-thēras meaning "-hunter".[4]
Despite being called "mynas", species in the genusAcridotheres are more closely related to a group of mainly terrestrial starlings fromEurasia, such as thecommon starling, and also African ones like theLamprotornis glossy-starlings. Among these, they are among the larger and duller species; they seem to be one of the major groups toevolve most recently. Apparently, they all arose from ancestors which arrived fromCentral Asia and adapted to morehumid conditions in theTropics. They presumably were isolated in about their current range when theevolutionary radiation to which they belonged - including thewattled starling and theSturnia species - was fragmented bydesertification at the start of theEarly Pliocene, as Earth turned towards thelast ice age 5 million years ago.
This genus has representatives in tropical southernAsia fromIran east to southernChina andIndonesia. Two species have been introduced widely elsewhere. The common myna has been introduced toSouth Africa,Israel,Hawaii,North America,Australia andNew Zealand, and the crested myna to theVancouver region ofBritish Columbia.
TheAcridotheres mynas are generally dark or dull birds with fluted calls like most starlings; the sexes are similar. They walk and hop, and may share adaptations along with theSturnus starlings that have modifications to the skull and its muscles for open bill probing or prying.[5] They resemble the hill mynas (Gracula) with which they often co-occur, in having large white or buff wing patches which are obvious in flight and in some also naked areas on the head, but differ in that only the head plumage is glossy, and the underparts tend to be paler. The naked head patches are different in arrangement.Acridotheres mynas are also much more terrestrial thanGracula.
Several species have frontal crests which become covered with pollen when the birds take nectar from flowers, and may play a role in pollination.
TheAcridotheres mynas have bowing courtship displays and lay unmarked pale blue eggs, whereasGracula has no visual display.
Like most starlings, theAcridotheres mynas are fairlyomnivorous, eatingfruit,nectar andinsects.
Thecladogram below showing the relationships of the species within the genus is based on amolecular phylogenetic study published in 2008. TheBurmese myna (Acridotheres burmannicus) was not included in the study.[5]
| Acridotheres |
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The genus contains 11 species:[6]
