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The '''Scaly ground roller''' ('''Geobiastes squamiger'''), is a species of [[Brachypteraciidae|ground roller]] in a monotypic genus '''Geobiastes''' in the [[Brachypteraciidae]] family. It is endemic to [[wikipedia:Madagascar|Madagascar]] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. |
The '''Scaly ground roller''' ('''Geobiastes squamiger'''), is a species of [[Brachypteraciidae|ground roller]] in a monotypic genus '''Geobiastes''' in the [[Brachypteraciidae]] family. It is endemic to [[wikipedia:Madagascar|Madagascar]] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. |
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+ | ==Morphology== |
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+ | Scaly ground rollers grow to between 27 to 31 centimeters (11 to 12 in). The head is covered with a black and white scaly pattern. It is a copper brown color and has green wings, with white tips. The center of the tail is reddish-brown, and has blue tips and black marks. The underside is pale, with black crescents. Its gray bill is thick and long, and its legs are pink in color. |
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+ | ==Ecology and behavior== |
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+ | The diet of the scaly ground roller mostly consists of invertebrates it collects from the ground but it does also eat vertebrates it can find. It has been reported to chiefly eat earthworms (Pheretima sp.) and centipedes (Scolopendra morsitons), but spiders, frogs, lizards (Zonosaurus sp. and Phelsuma sp.), and tenrecs (Microgale sp.) have also been reported to be eaten by the ground roller. |
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+ | Nesting occurs in small burrows, ranging from 6.5 to 10 cm (2.6–3.9 in) wide and 55 to 77 cm (22–30 in) deep. The nests are generally found near sources of water and where there's great herbaceous ground coverage. The scaly ground roller lays its eggs from mid-October to early November, with a clutch size of one egg. Incubation is conducted solely by the female for a period of 18 days. During brooding, the female generally will remain with the egg while a male brings food to the nest. Both parents provide food for their young after hatching. |
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+ | ==Conservation status== |
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+ | ==Taxonomy== |
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+ | ==Etymology== |
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[[Category:Animalia]] |
[[Category:Animalia]] |
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[[Category:Coraciiformes]] |
[[Category:Coraciiformes]] |
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[[Category:Vulnerable Species]] |
[[Category:Vulnerable Species]] |
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[[Category:Birds of Madagascar]] |
[[Category:Birds of Madagascar]] |
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− | [[Category:Chordata]] |
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[[Category:Geobiastes]] |
[[Category:Geobiastes]] |
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[[Category:Animals]] |
[[Category:Animals]] |
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[[Category:Avians]] |
[[Category:Avians]] |
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[[Category:Birds]] |
[[Category:Birds]] |
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+ | [[Category:Animals of Madagascar]] |
Latest revision as of 10:30, 31 May 2021
Scaly Ground Roller | |
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Information | |
Range | Madagascar |
Scientific Classification | |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Coraciiformes |
Family | Brachypteraciidae |
Genus | Geobiastes |
Species | Geobiastes squamiger |
Conservation Status | |
Vulnerable |
The Scaly ground roller (Geobiastes squamiger), is a species of ground roller in a monotypic genus Geobiastes in the Brachypteraciidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Morphology
Scaly ground rollers grow to between 27 to 31 centimeters (11 to 12 in). The head is covered with a black and white scaly pattern. It is a copper brown color and has green wings, with white tips. The center of the tail is reddish-brown, and has blue tips and black marks. The underside is pale, with black crescents. Its gray bill is thick and long, and its legs are pink in color.
Ecology and behavior
The diet of the scaly ground roller mostly consists of invertebrates it collects from the ground but it does also eat vertebrates it can find. It has been reported to chiefly eat earthworms (Pheretima sp.) and centipedes (Scolopendra morsitons), but spiders, frogs, lizards (Zonosaurus sp. and Phelsuma sp.), and tenrecs (Microgale sp.) have also been reported to be eaten by the ground roller.
Nesting occurs in small burrows, ranging from 6.5 to 10 cm (2.6–3.9 in) wide and 55 to 77 cm (22–30 in) deep. The nests are generally found near sources of water and where there's great herbaceous ground coverage. The scaly ground roller lays its eggs from mid-October to early November, with a clutch size of one egg. Incubation is conducted solely by the female for a period of 18 days. During brooding, the female generally will remain with the egg while a male brings food to the nest. Both parents provide food for their young after hatching.