Kingdom Animalia Order Strigiformes Scientific name Athene Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Family Strigidae Higher classification True owl | |
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Lower classifications Little owl, Burrowing owl, Spotted owlet, Forest owlet | ||
Athene is a genus of owls, containing two to four living species, depending on classification. These birds are small, with brown and white speckles, yellow eyes, and white eyebrows. This genus is found on all continents except for Australia, Antarctica, and Subsaharan Africa.
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The genus name, Athene is from the little owl, Athene noctua which was closely associated with the Greek goddess Athena, and often depicted with her. Her original role as a goddess of the night might explain the link to an owl.
Living species
Extinct species
A number of mainly island representatives of this genus are only known from fossil or subfossil remains:
The Cretan owl was a flightless or near-flightless form that was more than 50 cm (almost 2 ft) tall. It went extinct soon after the island of Crete became inhabited by humans.
Late Miocene (about 11 mya) fossil remains from Rudabánya (NE Hungary) have been tentatively assigned to this genus. Considering the known fossil range of Athene and the misassignments of many Miocene strigids from Europe, it may be a basal member of the present genus or not belong here. The supposed species "Athene" murivora is the name given to subfossil bones of male Rodrigues owls.