Moluccan Megapode
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| Eulipoa wallacei (Gray, 1860) |
The Moluccan Megapode, Eulipoa wallacei also known as Wallace's Scrubfowl, Moluccan Scrubfowl or Painted Megapode is a small, up to 31cm long, olive brown megapode. It is the only member of monotypic genus Eulipoa. Both sexes are similar with an olive brown plumage, bluish grey below, white undertail coverts, brown iris, bare pink facial skin, bluish-yellow bill and dark olive legs. There are light grey stripes on reddish maroon feathers on its back. The young has brownish plumage, a black bill, legs and hazel iris.
An Indonesian endemic, the Moluccan Megapode is confined to hill and mountain forests Maluku Islands of Halmahera, Buru, Seram, Ambon, Ternate, Haruku and Bacan. It also found in Misool Island of West Irian Jaya province.
The Moluccan Megapode is the only megapode known to lay its eggs nocturnally. The nesting grounds are usually located in sun-exposed beach or volcanic soils.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and hunting in some areas, the Moluccan Megapode is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Eulipoa wallacei. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 7 February 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
