Synopsis No.
-
201
HBI – Great Nicobar
Crested Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis klossi
BIS - Small
Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis
minimus klossi
TBOI - Small
Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis minimus klossi
This species was
first described as the Great Nicobar
Serpent-Eagle Spilornis klossi by
Richmond (1902). Baker (1928) treated it
as a subspecies, Spilornis cheela
minimus. Ripley (1961) and Ali and
Ripley (1968) have mentioned seven
subspecies of Spilornis cheela
namely cheela, melanotis, spilogaster,
burmanicus, elgini, minimus and
klossi and called this subspecies as
Great Nicobar Crested Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis cheela minimus. However,
Inskipp et al. (1996) treated it as
a full species, naming it as the Nicobar
Serpent Eagle Spilornis minimus.
Grimmett et al. (1998) and
Kazmierczak and van Perlo (2000) have also
considered it as a full species but named
it the Small Serpent-Eagle
Spilornis minimus. Rasmussen and
Anderton (2005) have mentioned that
sometimes it is consider as a separate
species Spilornis minimus. However,
Naoroji (2007) mentions that "Currently
considered a separate species on accounts
of its very small size and unmarked pale
brown underside, though taxonomic status
uncertain". It is reported from Great
Nicobar Island, Pulo Kunji, Little Nicobar,
Menchal and the South Nicobar group. It is
scarce and its status uncertain. It occurs
mainly in the primary forest.
Selected References
a. Ali, S. A. and S.
D. Ripley (1968) Handbook of the Birds
of India and Pakistan. Oxford
University Press, Bombay. Vol.1: 334-335.
b. Amadon, D. (1974)
Taxonomic notes on the serpent-eagle of
the genus Spilornis. 81.
Bulletin of the British Ornithologists
Club 94(4): 159-163.
c. Baker, S. (1928)
The Fauna of British India, Cylone and
Burma (Second Edition). Birds Vol.
5:102.
d. Naoroji, R.
(2007) Birds of Prey of the Indian
Subcontinent. Om Books International.
p-307.
e. Richmond (1902)
Proceedings of United States Natural
History Museum. 25:304.
f. Sclater, W. L.
(1919) Organization of the genus
Spilornis. 81. Bulletin of the
British Ornithologists Club 40 (245):
37-42.
