New Robin species discovered in Gabon

*Raph's Girl* · 08-15-2008, 03:59 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080815/...ird_gabon_dc_1

A red-breasted bird discovered by accident in the forests of Gabon is a new species, U.S. scientists said on Friday.

They have named the little bird the olive-backed forest robin, or Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus, but say they know little about it yet.

The Smithsonian Institution team found the bird while visiting the forest on a biodiversity project, said Brian Schmidt, a research ornithologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

"I suspected something when I found the first bird in Gabon since it didn't exactly match any of the species descriptions in the field guides," Schmidt said in a statement.

"Once I was able to compare them side by side to other specimens in our collections, it was clear that these birds were special."

Genetic tests confirmed the bird, which measures 4.5 inches

in length and averages half an ounce (14 grams) in weight, was a unique species.

Writing in the journal Zootaxa, the Smithsonian team said the males have a fiery orange throat and breast, yellow belly, olive back and black feathers on the head. Females are similar, but less vibrant. A distinctive white dot in front of each eye helps distinguish the species.

"Although finding an unknown species like the olive-backed forest robin was not the goal of the ... project, it is definitely a reminder that the world still holds surprises for us," Schmidt said.

Male:

Female:

*Hannah* · 08-15-2008, 04:04 PM

There are too many god damn species of things

*ToTheNines* · 08-15-2008, 04:06 PM

Yea... is there any point in giving creatures differnet names just because they're a different color or somethin?. I mean as far as I'm concerned the difference between a crocodile and an alligator is less than the difference between a white dude and an asian brother.

*KROW* · 08-15-2008, 06:23 PM

Great. More critters to crap on my car when I'm at the mall.

*VaughnMichael* · 08-15-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah

There are too many god damn species of things

Except Humans, we get the short end of the stick lol

Hamato Yoshi · 08-28-2008, 06:46 PM

It should be named Burt Ward (wink , wink)

*Drtooth* · 08-28-2008, 07:59 PM

A Penguin gets knighted and a new species of Robin found... Jeez... Caped Crusader isn't anything more than a rumor, and they're already promoting it... Wocka Wocka.

Evenstar227 · 08-29-2008, 04:06 PM

Wouldn't there need to be more differences than just color for a species to be declared separate? I'm not a biologist, so I don't know.

Gabon? Isn't that where the next Survivor's gonna be? $10 says the players & crew scare the birds away. Or else they roast and eat them, thus rendering them extinct.

08-15-2008, 03:59 PM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	New Robin species discovered in Gabon http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080815/...ird_gabon_dc_1 A red-breasted bird discovered by accident in the forests of Gabon is a new species, U.S. scientists said on Friday. They have named the little bird the olive-backed forest robin, or Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus, but say they know little about it yet. The Smithsonian Institution team found the bird while visiting the forest on a biodiversity project, said Brian Schmidt, a research ornithologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. "I suspected something when I found the first bird in Gabon since it didn't exactly match any of the species descriptions in the field guides," Schmidt said in a statement. "Once I was able to compare them side by side to other specimens in our collections, it was clear that these birds were special." Genetic tests confirmed the bird, which measures 4.5 inches in length and averages half an ounce (14 grams) in weight, was a unique species. Writing in the journal Zootaxa, the Smithsonian team said the males have a fiery orange throat and breast, yellow belly, olive back and black feathers on the head. Females are similar, but less vibrant. A distinctive white dot in front of each eye helps distinguish the species. "Although finding an unknown species like the olive-backed forest robin was not the goal of the ... project, it is definitely a reminder that the world still holds surprises for us," Schmidt said. Male: Female: __________________

08-15-2008, 04:06 PM	#3
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,386	Yea... is there any point in giving creatures differnet names just because they're a different color or somethin?. I mean as far as I'm concerned the difference between a crocodile and an alligator is less than the difference between a white dude and an asian brother. Last edited by ToTheNines; 08-15-2008 at 07:08 PM.

08-15-2008, 06:23 PM	#4
KROW Meat-n-Potatoes Man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: State's Anus, NY Posts: 6,472	Great. More critters to crap on my car when I'm at the mall. __________________ - Optimus Acid Trip - Cult of a Half-Shell - Raiden's Bitter Tongue - *I don't try to be funny; I fail at it naturally.*

08-28-2008, 07:59 PM	#7
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	A Penguin gets knighted and a new species of Robin found... Jeez... Caped Crusader isn't anything more than a rumor, and they're already promoting it... Wocka Wocka. __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

08-29-2008, 04:06 PM	#8
Evenstar227 Stone Warrior Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 42 Burr Hill Rd Posts: 513	Wouldn't there need to be more differences than just color for a species to be declared separate? I'm not a biologist, so I don't know. Gabon? Isn't that where the next Survivor's gonna be? $10 says the players & crew scare the birds away. Or else they roast and eat them, thus rendering them extinct. __________________ In the beginning...

08-15-2008, 04:04 PM	#2
Hannah Once more, with feeling! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,111	There are too many god damn species of things

08-28-2008, 06:46 PM	#6
Hamato Yoshi Stone Warrior Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 950	It should be named Burt Ward (wink , wink)