Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Strigidae Scientific name Otus pauliani | Phylum Chordata Order Strigiformes Genus Otus Rank Species | |
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Similar Anjouan scops owl, Moheli scops owl, Sandy scops owl, Pemba scops owl, Mayotte scops owl | ||
The Karthala scops owl, also known as Grand Comoro scops owl or Comoro scops owl, (Otus pauliani) is a small, scops owl endemic to the island of Grande Comore in the Comoro Islands.
Contents
Description
The Karthala scops owl lacks ear tufts and come in two colour forms, a light morph and a dark morph. The light morph is dark greyish brown on the upperparts with fine barring and pale spots along the scapulars. The underparts are reddish buff with a dense pattern of fine barring on the flight feathers and tail. The dark morph is overall dark chocolate brown but no specimen of a dark morph individual has been taken. It measures 20 cm (7.9 in) in length and the wingspan is 45 cm (18 in).
Voice
A whistled "toot" which is given repeatedly with one second intervals.
Distribution and habitat
Endemic to the island of Grande Comore, the Karthala scops owl is found only on Mount Karthala, an active volcano. Here it inhabits the montaine forest, some secondary growth and the tree heath above the forest.
Habits
Nocturnal and very territorial, the Karthala scops owl will approach an imitation of its call, otherwise almost unknown. It has relatively weak talons so probably feeds on insects and other invertebrates. It is though to nest in tree cavities.
Status and population
It has an estimated population of 2,000. It is classified as "Critically Endangered" due to it being restricted to such a small area, which is being rapidly deforested.
Taxonomy
The Karthala scops owl was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Madagascar scops owl Otus rutilus, but with the other Comoro Islands scops owls it is now regarded as a separate species.