Black guineafowl

The black guineafowl (Agelastes niger) is a member of the guineafowl bird family. It occurs in humid forests in Central Africa, where it is often heard, but seldom seen. It is a medium-sized black bird with a bare, pink head and upper neck. Little is known of its behaviour.

Black guineafowl
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Numididae
Genus: Agelastes
Species:
A. niger
Binomial name
Agelastes niger
Cassin, 1857

Description

The head and upper neck of an adult black guineafowl are unfeathered, revealing the pink skin. A crest of short downy feathers is on the forehead and crown, and the throat and lower neck have a scattering of downy feathers. The body and tail feathers are black with some paler speckled markings on the belly. Males have one to three spurs on their legs, while females either have none or a single short spur. Juveniles are similar, but have buff tips to the feathers on their upper parts, a speckled breast, and white belly. The beak is greenish grey and the legs greyish brown. Males are usually slightly larger than females and measure about 42 cm (17 in) in length, weighing about 700 g (25 oz). The call is a monotonous high-pitched "kwee" repeated at the rate of two to three notes per second. The alarm call is an even shriller sound repeated more rapidly.[2]

Behaviour

The black guineafowl has been little studied. It is usually found in pairs or small groups, and is a shy, elusive bird of the forest floor. It occurs in primary and secondary growth woodland, favouring parts with thick undergrowth, but sometimes venturing out onto adjacent cultivated lands. It feeds on invertebrates such as ants, termites, millipedes, and beetles, and also small frogs, seeds, berries, and shoots. The nesting habits of this species are not known, but the eggs are pale reddish-brown, sometimes shaded with yellow or purple.[2] It may breed in the dry season or possibly at any time of year.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The black guineafowl is native to West Central Africa south of the Sahara. Its range includes Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] The extent of its range is estimated to be 764,000 km2 (295,000 sq mi).[3] It is found on the forest floor in primary and secondary tropical rainforest, especially with thick undergrowth, and in nearby cultivated croplands.[2]

Research

Black guineafowl are resistant to various diseases that affect poultry, including Ehrlichia ruminantium, which causes heartwater, but the mechanism for this resistance is not currently known to researchers. The black guineafowl's genome includes a toll-like receptor (TLR1) which plays an important role in the bird's immune system. This gene has been studied and includes 2,115 nucleotides, encoding 705 amino acids. TLR1 is associated with infections caused by bacteria in both humans and mice, and this gene is of interest to researchers because genetic variation in it is associated with increased Gram-positive bacterial infections, organ failure, and death.[4]

Status

The population trend for the black guineafowl seems to be downward, because it is hunted for food, possibly unsustainably, and may suffer from degradation of its habitat.[3] However, it is quite common within its range and the IUCN lists it as being of least concern in its Red List of Threatened Species, as the rate of decline does not seem to justify the bird being placed in a more vulnerable category.[1]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Agelastes niger". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Madge, Steve; McGowan, J. K.; Kirwan, Guy M. (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the World. A. C. Black. p. 346. ISBN 9780713639667.
  3. "Black Guineafowl Agelastes niger". BirdLife International. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  4. Wu, Yanhua; Ruan, Wenke; Cui, Defeng; Li, Huanrong (2012). "Identification of a Toll-Like Receptor 1 in Guinea Fowl (Agelastes niger)". Biochemical Genetics. 50 (9–10): 702–716. doi:10.1007/s10528-012-9513-5.
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