Crateroscelis murina (Species)
Gende language: Topul; Kausi language: Kiasi, Bundi language: Sila
Male nominate race has top of head black, upper parts, including upper wing and tail, dark olive-brown or rufous-brown, slightly more rufous on upper tail-coverts; throat white, underparts dull rufous brown; iris scarlet or red; bill black, pinkish lower mandible; legs pale pinkish, or with grey feet. Female is similar to male but duller, with crown and lores brownish (not black). Juvenile has brown iris and dark brown bill. Races differ in biometrics (nominate quite large, wing 61 mm) and some plumage features: monacha is similar to nominate, but white below except for fawn on lower throat and brownish breast side and flanks; pallida has crown olive-brown, much white on underparts; capitalis has brown crown and ochraceous underparts, small size (wing 57 mm); fumosa has blackish-brown crown and ochraceous underparts, smallest race (54 mm).
Not Threatened
A small, dull longlegged acanthizid: skulks on forest floor. Male nominate race has top of head black, upper parts, including upperwing and tail, dark olive-brown or rufous-brown, slightly more rufous on uppertail-coverts; throat white, underparts dull rufous brown; iris scarlet or red; bill black, pinkish lower mandible; legs pale pinkish, or with grey feet. Female is similar to male but duller, with crown and lores brownish (not black). Juvenile has brown iris and dark brown bill. Races differ in biometrics (nominate quite large, wing 61 mm) and some plumage features: monacha is similar to nominate, but white below except for fawn on lower throat and brownish breast side and flanks; pallida has crown olive-brown, much white on underparts; capitalis has brown crown and ochraceous underparts, small size (wing 57 mm); fumosa has blackish-brown crown and ochraceous underparts, smallest race (54 mm).
12 cm
Taxonomy: Brachypteryx murinus P. L. Sclater, 1858, Lobo, Triton Bay, south-western New Guinea. Five subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
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* capitalis Stresemann & Paludan, 1932 - West Papuan Is (Waigeo, Batanta). * fumosa Ripley, 1957 - Misool (S West Papuan Is). * murina (P. L. Sclater, 1858) - Salawati (West Papuan Is) and Yapen I (in Geelvink Bay), and most of mainland New Guinea. * monacha (G. R. Gray, 1858) - Aru Is. * pallida Rand, 1938 - Trans-Fly lowlands of S New Guinea.
Primarily hill forest, from 460 m, occurring in lower mountains to c. 1700 m. Occupies a terrestrial and low-level niche, haunting understorey and shrubs, sometimes in dense areas but also in fairly open places. Replaced at higher altitude by C. robusta. At Efogi, in Central Province, three species of mouse-warbler overlap within narrow altitudinal band. Present species up to 1280 m and common below 1250 m, C. robusta as low as 1250 m but common from 1280 m upwards, and very local C. nigrorufa at c.1250 m (where but seems, paradoxically, the commonest of the three), ecological separation presumed achieved through niche selection, perhaps present species foraging in lowest understorey levels and C. nigrorufa in highest.
Diet poorly known; arthropods eaten. Usually seen singly or in pairs; sometimes in parties of three or four individuals, probably family groups. Forages low in understorey, on sides of trees. Jumps up to glean morsels from undersides of leaves (long legs perhaps an advantage); not seen to sally for prey. Bounds along rapidly; hops rapidly from perch to perch when alarmed, flying fast to other perches usually not far away.
Poorly known. Eggs found in Sept and young in Jul. Nest domed, with side entrance, lined with vegetable fibres, one was in small hollow under a clump of ferns. Clutch 2 eggs mainly uniform buff-brown, reddish-grey or darker brownish, sometimes with shadowy darker zone of smudged spots around larger end; no information on incubation and nestling periods.
