[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Otus moheliensis | [authority] Lafontaine and Moulaert, 1998 | [UK] Moheli Scops Owl | [FR] Petit-duc de Moheli | [DE] Mohelieule | [ES] Autillo de Moheli | [NL] Anjouan dwergooruil
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Region | Range |
| Otus | moheliensis | AF | Moheli Is, Comoros |
Genus
Members of the genus Otus are the Scops and Screech owls. They are relatively small owls, with short, rounded wings. Most have erectile ear-tufts. Otus is a worldwide genus, containing some 45 species.
Physical charateristics
Two colour forms. Rufous form is bright orangey-buff with unusually reduced barring and streaks. Brown morph is darker and heavily streaked and vermiculated. Both colour forms have yellow-green eyes, grey legs and black beaks. The Moheli scops-owl is highly vocal, producing hissing whistles and screeches.
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 20 | cm | size max.: | 22 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 0 | days | incubation max.: | 0 | days |
| fledging min.: | 0 | days | fledging max.: | 0 | days |
| broods: | 0 | eggs min.: | 0 | ||
| eggs max.: | 0 |
Range
Africa : Moheli Islands, Comoros
Habitat
It is found in dense, humid forest, which remains only on the central mountain peak and its upper slopes. It is common in intact forest, but less so in forest under-planted for agriculture. It has also been recently sighted in degraded forest, however it is not known whether this habitat can support a breeding.
Reproduction
Nests in tree cavity, no further data.
Feeding habits
No data
Conservation
This scops-owl is classified as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small range, occurring on only one mountain ridge. There has been a continuing decline in the area and quality of habitat, from which it is suspected that there has been a continuing decline in its extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and the number of mature individuals.
This species is endemic to Moheli in the Comoro Islands. It is relatively abundant – its density has been estimated at one individual/5 ha of near-primary forest (c.10 km2) and one individual per 10 ha of degraded forest, giving a total population in the order of 400 individuals
This species is endemic to Moheli in the Comoro Islands. It is relatively abundant – its density has been estimated at one individual/5 ha of near-primary forest (c.10 km2) and one individual per 10 ha of degraded forest, giving a total population in the order of 400 individuals
Migration
Resident
Distribution map
