Philepittidae, the asities, is a small family of passerine birds endemic to Madagascar, comprising four species in two genera, Philepitta and Neodrepanis. These small forest birds are sexually dimorphic; males of most species carry brightly colored wattles around the eyes, colored by an unusual collagen-based pigment. Asities have very short tails carrying just twelve feathers, and their long outer primary feathers produce an audible buzz in flight. The two Neodrepanis species, known as sunbird-asities and formerly called false sunbirds, have forked tongues specially adapted for feeding on nectar. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Sources
1. Philepittidae (Wikipedia)
Introduction
The asities are a family of birds, Philepittidae, that are endemic to Madagascar.
- Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
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