Malacoptila
| Malacoptila | |
|---|---|
| White-whiskered puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Bucconidae |
| Genus: | Malacoptila G.R. Gray, 1841 |
| Type species | |
| Bucco fuscus Gmelin, 1788
| |
| Species | |
|
See article | |
Malacoptila is a genus of puffbirds in the family Bucconidae, one of ten genera. The seven species are found in Central and South America
The genus Malacoptila was introduced in 1841 by the English zoologist George Robert Gray. He listed three species in the new genus but did not specify the type.[1] In 1855 Gray designated the type as Bucco fuscus Gmelin, 1788, the white-chested puffbird.[2][3] The name Malacoptila combines the Ancient Greek malakos meaning "soft" with ptilon meaning "plumage" or "feather".[4]
Species
The genus contains the following seven species:[5]
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-chested puffbird | Malacoptila fusca | ||
| Semicollared puffbird | Malacoptila semicincta | ||
| Crescent-chested puffbird | Malacoptila striata | ||
| Rufous-necked puffbird | Malacoptila rufa | ||
| White-whiskered puffbird | Malacoptila panamensis | ||
| Black-streaked puffbird | Malacoptila fulvogularis | ||
| Moustached puffbird | Malacoptila mystacalis |
References
- ^ Gray, George Robert (1841). A List of the Genera of Birds : with their Synonyma and an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus (2nd ed.). London: R. and J.E. Taylor. p. 13.
- ^ Gray, George Robert (1855). Catalogue of the Genera and Subgenera of Birds Contained in the British Museum. London: British Museum. p. 15.
- ^ Dickinson, E.C.; Remsen, J.V. Jr., eds. (2013). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Non-passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-9568611-0-8.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.