| Lybiidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Double-toothed barbet Lybius bidentatus | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Suborder: | Pici |
| Infraorder: | Ramphastides |
| Family: | Lybiidae Sibley &Ahlquist, 1985 |
| Type genus | |
| Lybius Hermann, 1783 | |
| Genera | |
Buccanodon | |
Lybiidae is afamily ofbirds also known as theAfrican barbets. There are 44 species ranging from thetype genusLybius of forest interior to thetinkerbirds (Pogoniulus) offorest andscrubland. They are found throughoutsub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the far south-west ofSouth Africa.
The African terrestrial barbets,Trachyphoninae, range from the southernSahara toSouth Africa. Members of onegenus,Trachyphonus, are the most open-country species of barbets. The subfamilyLybiinae contains the African arboreal barbets. There are 37species of Lybiinae in 6genera.
Thephylogenetic relationship between the African barbets and the eight other families in theorderPiciformes is shown in the cladogram below.[1][2] The number of species in each family is taken from the list maintained byFrank Gill,Pamela C. Rasmussen and David Donsker on behalf of theInternational Ornithological Committee (IOC).[3]
| Piciformes |
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Most African barbets are about 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) long, plump-looking, with large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed withbristles; the tinkerbirds are smaller, ranging down to thered-rumped tinkerbird (Pogoniulus atroflavus) at 7 g (0.25 oz) and 9 cm (3.5 in).
They are mainly solitary birds, eating insects and fruit.Figs and numerous other species of fruiting tree and bush are visited. An individual barbet may feed on as many as 60 different species in its range. They will also visit plantations and take cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such asseed pits regurgitated later (often beforesinging). Regurgitation does not usually happen in the nest (as happens withtoucans), althoughtinkerbirds do place stickymistletoe seeds around the entrances of their nests, possibly to deter predators. Like other barbets, they are thought to be important agents inseed dispersal in tropical forests.
As well as taking fruit, African barbets also takearthropod prey, gleaned from the branches and trunks of trees. A wide range of insects are taken, including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths and mantids. Scorpions and centipedes are also taken, and a few species will take small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and geckos.
The precise nesting details of many African barbets are not yet known, although peculiarly among thePiciformes, some sociable species will nest in riverbanks or termite nests. Like many members of their order, Piciformes, their nests are in holes bored into a tree, and they usually lay between 2 and 4 eggs (except for theyellow-breasted barbet which lays up to 6), incubated for 13–15 days. Nesting duties are shared by both parents.
There has been generally little interference by humans. Some of the species which require primary woodland are declining due todeforestation, occasionally to the benefit of close relatives. For example, the loss of highland woods inKenya has seen themoustached tinkerbird almost disappear and thered-fronted tinkerbird expand its range.
Subfamily Lybiinae
| Image | Genus | Living Species |
|---|---|---|
 | GymnobuccoBonaparte, 1850 |
|
 | Stactolaema Marshall & Marshall, 1870 |
|
 | PogoniulusLafresnaye, 1842 – tinkerbirds |
|
_(cropped).jpg) | BuccanodonG.R. Gray, 1855– yellow-spotted barbets |
|
 | TricholaemaVerreaux & Verreaux, 1855 |
|
 | LybiusHermann, 1783 |
|
.jpg) | PogonornisBillberg, 1828 |
|
Subfamily Trachyphoninae
| Image | Genus | Living Species |
|---|---|---|
 | TrachylaemusVerreaux, J &Verreaux, É, 1851 |
|
 | TrachyphonusRanzani, 1821 |
|
It is not entirely resolved whether the Early to MiddleMiocene genusCapitonides fromEurope belongs to this family or the Asian barbets (nowMegalaimidae). Indeed, given that the prehistoric birds somewhat resembled a primitive toucan (without these birds' presentautapomorphies), they might occupy a morebasal position among the barbet-toucanclade altogether. On the other hand, they show some similarities toTrachyphonus in particular and have even been placed into this genus,[4] but this move is not widely accepted.
"CMC 152", adistalcarpometacarpus similar to that of barbets and found at the Middle Miocene locality of Grive-Saint-Alban (France) was considered to differ fromCapitonides in the initial description, being closer to extant (presumably Old World) barbets.[5] This fossil is sometimes lumped intoTrachyphonus too;[4] in this case it may have more merit.
Supposedfossil remains ofLate MiocenePogoniulus were found atKohfidisch (Austria)[4] but are not yet thoroughly studied. It is not clear whether they belong to the extant genus but given the late date this may well be so.