Macronyx aurantiigula

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Infraordo: Passerida
Superfamilia: Passeroidea

Familia: Motacillidae
Genus: Macronyx
Species: Macronyx aurantiigula
Name

Macronyx aurantiigula Reichenow, 1891
References

Journal für Ornithologie 39 p. 222
Vernacular names
English: Pangani Longclaw

The Pangani longclaw (Macronyx aurantiigula) is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae, which includes the pipits and wagtails. It is found in Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia. The bird's natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Originally described by German ornithologist Anton Reichenow in 1891, the Pangani longclaw is a member of the longclaw genus Macronyx. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words μακρός/makros "long", and ονυξ/onyx "claw" or "talons".[2] The species name is derived from the Latin words aurantium "orange", and gŭla "throat" or "gullet"[3]
Description

The Pangani longclaw measures around 20 cm (8 in) in length.[4] As its species name suggests, it has a yellow-orange throat. This is bordered with a black necklace. The upperparts are mottled various shades of brown, and the belly is yellow. In immature birds, the belly is more buff than yellow and the dark breast band less distinct.[4] The flanks are streaked black and buff. The flight is jerky.[5] The call has been described as a high-pitched siuuweeeee, with a pitch that rises, falls then rises before fading away.[5]

Its more orange throat helps distinguish it from the yellow-throated longclaw and Abyssinian longclaw, however the throats of female and older immature Pangani longclaws can be more yellow.[4][5] The last species is also found further north in the Horn of Africa in Ethiopia.[4]

A predominantly ground-dwelling bird, the Pangani longclaw inhabits grasslands,[4] to an altitude of 1800 m (5500 ft).[5]
References

BirdLife International (2016). "Macronyx aurantiigula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22718428A94580095. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22718428A94580095.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1980) [1871]. A Greek-English Lexicon (abridged ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 423, 491. ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5th ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 269. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
Nigel Redman; John Fanshawe; Terry Stevenson (2009). Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Socotra. A&C Black. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-7136-6541-3.
Terry Stevenson; John Fanshawe (2004). Birds of East Africa. A&C Black. p. 302. ISBN 0-7136-7347-8.