Anjouan Scops Owl
Encyclopedia
The Anjouan Scops Owl, Otus capnodes, is an owl
endemic to the Comoro Islands
.
This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owl
s, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owl
s, Tytonidae.
This owl is found on the island of Anjouan
. This species was rediscovered in June 1992, after an absence of records dating back to 1886.
It has an estimated population of less than 400. It is classified as Critically Endangered
because its range is restricted to such a small area, which is being rapidly deforested
.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
endemic to the Comoro Islands
Comoro Islands
The Comoros Islands form an archipelago of volcanic islands situated off the south-east coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and north-west of Madagascar. They are divided between the sovereign state of Comoros and the French overseas department of Mayotte...
.
This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owl
Typical owl
True owl or Typical owl are one of the two generally accepted families of Owls, the other being the barn owls . The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy unites the Caprimulgiformes with the owl order; here, the typical owls are a subfamily Strigidae...
s, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
s, Tytonidae.
This owl is found on the island of Anjouan
Anjouan
Anjouan is an autonomous island, part of the Union of Comoros. The island is located in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population as of 2006 is about 277,500. The total area of the island is 424 sq. kilometers Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous island,...
. This species was rediscovered in June 1992, after an absence of records dating back to 1886.
It has an estimated population of less than 400. It is classified as Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
because its range is restricted to such a small area, which is being rapidly deforested
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
.