Amytornis

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Subsectio: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Cladus: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Infraclassis: Aves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Parvordo: Corvida
Superfamilia: Meliphagoidea

Familia: Maluridae
Genus: Amytornis
Species: A. ballarae – A. barbatus – A. dorotheae – A. goyderi – A. housei – A. merrotsyi – A. purnelli – A. striatus – A. textilis – A. woodwardi
Name

Amytornis Stejneger, 1885
References

The Standard Natural History 4 p. 499

Grasswrens (Amytornis) are a genus of birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.
Taxonomy and systematics

Amytornis is the only genus classified within the subfamily Amytornithinae, and form a separate clade than the related fairy-wrens and emu-wrens within the family Maluridae. The genus contains thirteen species, many of which are poorly known due to their secretive nature and remote and inaccessible habitat.
Extant species

The genus contains the following species:[1]

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
	Grey grasswren	Amytornis barbatus	New South Wales/Queensland
	Black grasswren	Amytornis housei	Western Australia.
	White-throated grasswren	Amytornis woodwardi	Australia.
	Carpentarian grasswren	Amytornis dorotheae	Australia.
	Short-tailed grasswren	Amytornis merrotsyi	South Australia
	Rufous grasswren	Amytornis whitei	western Australia.
	Opalton grasswren	Amytornis rowleyi	Queensland, Australia
	Striated grasswren	Amytornis striatus	South Australia and Victoria
	Eyrean grasswren	Amytornis goyderi	Central Australia
	Western grasswren	Amytornis textilis	northwest Western Australia and South Australia
	Thick-billed grasswren	Amytornis modestus	New South Wales and South Australia
	Dusky grasswren	Amytornis purnelli	Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.
	Kalkadoon grasswren	Amytornis ballarae	western Queensland

Description

Grasswrens are the largest members of the Australasian wren family, ranging from 15 g (0.53 oz) for the Eyrean grasswren to the 35 g (1.2 oz) white-throated grasswren. They generally have long tails and legs and short wings and are adapted for life foraging on the ground. The bill is typically shorter and narrower than the fairy-wrens and emu-wrens, which reflects the larger part that seeds play in their diet. The plumage of the grasswrens is cryptic, usually red, buff and brown patterned with white and black.[2]
Distribution and habitat

Grasswrens are endemic to Australia. They inhabit remote arid or semi-arid regions of the continent in the interior and north. Species typically occupy small ranges as well. Most species of grasswrens inhabit habitat dominated by spinifex. They are often found in hilly areas dominated by rocks, which provides them with prey as well as shelter, particularly thermal shelter from extremes of heat or cold.[2]
References

Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2017). "Lyrebirds, scrubbirds, bowerbirds & Australasian wrens". World Bird List Version 7.3. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

Rowley, I.; Russell, E. (2017). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A.; de Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Fairy-wrens (Maluridae)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 26 July 2017.

Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2

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