Scotopelia ussheri

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: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Ordo: Strigiformes

Familia: Strigidae
Subfamilia: Striginae
Genus: Scotopelia
Species: Scotopelia ussheri
Name

Scotopelia ussheri Sharpe, 1871
References
Primary references

Sharpe, R.B. 1871. Descriptions of Two new Species of African Birds. Ibis. 1(1): 100–102. BHL DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1871.tb05827.x Reference page. p. 101 BHL

Vernacular names
čeština: Ketupa červenavá
español: Cárabo pescador rojizo

The rufous fishing owl (Scotopelia ussheri), rufous-backed fishing-owl or Ussher's fishing owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae.[3] It is endemic to west Africa, where it is a highly localised resident along forest rivers.[1]

Taxonomy

English naturalist Richard Bowdler Sharpe described the rufous fishing owl in 1871. It is one of three species in the genus Scotopelia.[3] It is named after Herbert Taylor Ussher who provided the type specimen Sharpe used in his description.[4][5]
Description

The rufous fishing owl is a medium-sized owl, measuring 46 to 51 cm (18 to 20 in) in length. This is substantially smaller than the Pel's fishing owl, which also occurs in the region.[6] It lacks ear tufts and has an indistinct, pale cinnamon facial disc.[7] The underparts are pale and are finely streaked due to the dark shafts of the majority of the feathers. The flanks may have a more rufous patch.[6] The adults have barred flight feathers, with the upperparts of the wings (mantle, scapulars and wing-coverts) showing a mixture of rufous, creamy-buff and white. The mantle also has a few blackish marks.[6]

While being substantially smaller, the juveniles have similar markings to the adults, particularly in their wings. The first-generation feathers, however, tend to be paler than those grown after the first moult, particularly on the underparts. Young birds may also appear stumpier, presumably due to their denser, fluffier feathers.[6]

The feet and legs are bare and are yellowish-orange in colour. The bill is bluish grey, contrasting with a yellowish cere.[6]

Their call is a low, deep, moaning [7] or dove-like hoot.[6] It may be repeated at regular intervals (about 15–20 seconds) for at least an hour.[6] Pairs may also duet.[1] A study carried out in Ivory Coast showed that the best responses to playback experiments occur in the small rainy season during the full moon.[8]
Distribution and habitat

The rufous fishing owl is endemic to west Africa. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where it occurs as a highly localised resident along shady river banks. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.[1]

Although it lives in close proximity to the Pel's fishing owl, it has been suggested that they utilise the habitat differently. While the Pel's fishing owl is primarily found near larger, deeper water bodies, the rufous fishing owl seems to show a preference for smaller, shallower rivers.[9] This may help explain why it has also been found in secondary forest, such as that near Kambama village,[6] as long as there is suitable gallery forest where tree branches overhang the streams to provide fishing posts. It has also been observed to occur in plantations, suggesting that it may be more adaptable than previously believed.[citation needed]
Behaviour

The habits of the rufous fishing owl are poorly known. It is believed that, like other fishing owls, this species is probably mainly nocturnal. Diurnal activity has, however, been rarely observed. An individual was camera trapped in 2009 in Sierra Leone at midday.[1] Daytime hunting, however, has yet to be seen, suggesting that nocturnal behaviours are more common.[6]
Diet

It is thought to mainly eat small fish.[6] Catfish were also recorded in the stomach contents of a specimen from Sierra Leone. It may also feed freshwater crabs among other food items.[1]
Breeding

Eggs have been laid in Sierra Leone in September and October and juveniles moulting out of juvenile into adult plumage, roughly six months after fledging, have been recorded in Liberia in July. It is thought that a single chick is the normal brood size.[7]
Status and conservation

It was formerly classified as endangered by the IUCN, however newer research showed that it is not as rare as was once believed. Consequently, it was downlisted to vulnerable in 2011.[1] That being said, this species remains one of the rarest and least known owls species in the world and populations remain fragmented and continue to decline due to habitat loss.[1]
References

BirdLife International (2016). "Scotopelia ussheri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22689038A93215477. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689038A93215477.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
"Rufous Fishing-Owl Scotopelia ussheri Sharpe, 1871". Avibase. Denis Lepage. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
Sharpe, Richard Bowdler (January 1871). "Descriptions of Two New Species of African Birds". Ibis. 13 (1): 100–102.
Sharpe, Richard Bowdler (October 1871). "On Seven New or Lately Described Species of African Birds". Ibis. 13 (4): 414–417.
Monticellia, David; Koromab, Alusein P.; Bannah, Denis (2015). "Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone" (PDF). Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22 (2): 183–189.
König, Claus; Weick, Friedhelm; Becking, Jan-Hendrick (1999). Owls A Guide to the Owls of the World. Pica Press. pp. 315–316. ISBN 1-873403-74-7.
Ahon, Dibié Bernard; Rondeau, Guy (2008). "Distribution, conservation status and sensitivity to playback of the Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in the coastal forest zone of Ivory Coast" (PDF). Malimbus. 30: 134–144.
Klop, Eric; Lindsell, Jeremy A; Siaka, Alhaji M (2010). "The birds of Gola Forest and Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone" (PDF). Malimbus. 32: 33–58.