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Typical Owls (Strigidae)

Ryukyu Scops-owl (Otus elegans) - HBW 5, p. 167

French: Petit-duc élégant German: Schmuckeule Spanish: Autillo Elegante
Other common names: Elegant Scops-owl

Taxonomy: Ephialtes elegans Cassin, 1852, at sea off the coast of Japan.
Probably forms superspecies with O. manadensis and O. collari. Formerly treated as conspecific with O. sunia, and until recently considered race of O. scops, but separated specifically on basis of vocal characteristics and morphology (comparatively larger feet); has recently been listed it as a race of O. manadensis, perhaps erroneously. Batan population sometimes separated as race batanensis; interpositus merged with nominate by some authors. S race calayensis placed with O. mantananensis by some, but seems closer to present spec.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Ephialtes elegans Cassin, 1852, at sea off the coast of Japan.
Probably forms superspecies with O. manadensis and O. collari. Formerly treated as conspecific with O. sunia, and until recently considered race of O. scops, but separated specifically on basis of vocal characteristics and morphology (comparatively larger feet); has recently been listed it as a race of O. manadensis, perhaps erroneously. Batan population sometimes separated as race batanensis; interpositus merged with nominate by some authors. S race calayensis placed with O. mantananensis by some, but seems closer to present species, at least on vocal and geographical grounds. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • elegans (Cassin, 1852) - throughout Ryukyu Is (Nansei Shoto), S Japan.
  • interpositus Kuroda, 1923 - Daito Is (Minami-daito-jima).
  • botelensis Kuroda, 1928 - Lanyu I, off SE Taiwan.
  • calayensis McGregor, 1904 - Batan Is, Sabtang and Calayan, off N Philippines.

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