Animalia Life
Uratelornis chimaera
SUBFAMILY
Brachypteraciinae
TAXONOMY
Uratelornis chimaera Rothschild, 1895, Madagascar. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Brachyptйrolle а longue queue; German: Langschwanzerdracke;
Spanish: Carraca-Terrestre Colilarga.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
18 in (46 cm) including tail. Sandy-brown upperparts with dark
brown streaks; white underparts; and light blue outer wing
feathers.
DISTRIBUTION
Southwestern Madagascar.
HABITAT
Dry Didierea woodland on sandy soil up to 330 ft (100 m).
BEHAVIOR
Terrestrial; inconspicuous, mottled plumage blending with
leaf litter in shade. Pairs or family parties when breeding,
singly at other times. Stands motionless awaiting prey, long tail
held horizontal or cocked up. Calls from low branch, often at
night.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages in leaf litter, taking terrestrial invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous; breeds during summer monsoons; 3–4 white
eggs laid in burrow excavated in sandy soil. Courtship features
neck stretching and vertical spring up to perch; feeding of female
by male. Pair always near nest, but nesting
BEHAVIOR
not
known.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable in very restricted range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Birds and eggs taken for food.
Photo Gallery of - Long-tailed ground-roller
