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{{Short description|Extinct genus of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range= [[Holocene]]
| status = fossil
| taxon = Grallistrix
| taxon = Grallistrix
| authority =
| authority =
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
| subdivision =
''[[Grallistrix auceps]]''<br />
''[[Grallistrix auceps]]''<br />
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}}
}}


The '''stilt-owls''' (''Grallistrix'') are a [[genus]] of [[true owl]]s which contains four species, all of which lived on the [[Hawaiian Islands]] but are now [[Extinction|extinct]].
The '''stilt-owls''' (''Grallistrix'') is an [[Extinction|extinct]] [[genus]] of [[true owl]]s which contains four species, all of which lived on the [[Hawaiian Islands]].


''Grallistrix'' can be loosely translated as "owl on [[stilts]]". The genus received this name due to the long legs and presumably terrestrial habits which they [[Evolution|evolved]] in the absence of [[mammal]]ian [[predator]]s on their island homes. They fed on smaller birds such as [[Hawaiian honeycreeper]]s. While they were well able to fly, they may have stalked sleeping birds on foot, or raided [[seabird]] colonies at night.
''Grallistrix'' can be loosely translated as "owl on [[stilts]]". The genus received this name due to the long legs and terrestrial habits which they [[Evolution|evolved]] in the absence of [[mammal]]ian [[predator]]s on their island homes. They fed on smaller birds such as [[Hawaiian honeycreeper]]s. They were also able to fly, but likely did most of their hunting on the ground, filling the niches occupied by medium-sized predatory mammals elsewhere.


When the islands were settled by humans since the late 1st millennium AD, the owls presumably rapidly succumbed to the depredations of introduced [[pig]]s and possibly [[Polynesian rat]]s, as well as [[habitat destruction]] for agriculture. They were never seen alive by scientists, being known only from [[subfossil]] bones.
The owls were never seen alive by scientists and are known only from [[subfossil]] bones.


== Species ==
== Species ==
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*''[[Tyto pollens]]''
*''[[Tyto pollens]]''
*''[[Ornimegalonyx]]''
*''[[Ornimegalonyx]]''
*[[Late Quaternary prehistoric birds]]
*[[List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species]]
*[[List of extinct birds]]
*[[List of extinct bird species since 1500]]
*[[List of fossil birds]]
*[[List of fossil bird genera]]
*[[List of extinct animals]]
*[[List of extinct animals]]
*[[Flightless birds]]
*[[Flightless birds]]
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*{{cite book
*{{cite book
| last = Kay
| last = Kay
| first = E. Alison
| first = E. Alison
| title = A Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands: Selected Readings II
| title = A Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands: Selected Readings II
| publisher = University of Hawaii Press
| publisher = University of Hawaii Press
| date = 1994
| date = 1994
| location =
| location =
| isbn = 0-8248-1659-5
| isbn = 0-8248-1659-5
| url-access = registration
⚫
}}
| url = https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryof00kaye
⚫
}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
| last = Ziegler
| last = Ziegler
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* http://www.extinct.minks-lang.de/7voegel/a.birdsfamilien/strigidae1.htm
* http://www.extinct.minks-lang.de/7voegel/a.birdsfamilien/strigidae1.htm


{{Strigiformes|S.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q292580}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q292580}}


Latest revision as of 00:19, 21 October 2024

Stilt-owl
Temporal range: Holocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: †Grallistrix
Species

Grallistrix auceps
Grallistrix erdmani
Grallistrix geleches
Grallistrix orion

The stilt-owls (Grallistrix) is an extinct genus of true owls which contains four species, all of which lived on the Hawaiian Islands.

Grallistrix can be loosely translated as "owl on stilts". The genus received this name due to the long legs and terrestrial habits which they evolved in the absence of mammalian predators on their island homes. They fed on smaller birds such as Hawaiian honeycreepers. They were also able to fly, but likely did most of their hunting on the ground, filling the niches occupied by medium-sized predatory mammals elsewhere.

The owls were never seen alive by scientists and are known only from subfossil bones.

Species

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Kay, E. Alison (1994). A Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands: Selected Readings II. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1659-5.
  • Ziegler, Alan C. (2002). Hawaiian Natural History, Ecology, and Evolution. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-2190-4.
[edit]


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