Notes on African Rock Pipit Anthus crenatus biometrics

African Rock Pipits Anthus crenatus occur in mountainous terrain with steep slopes, and as a result are not easily captured. This is borne out by the South Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING) data, which lists fewer than 20 individuals of this species ever having been caught ringed. As this, there also limited biometric data available for species. In paper, I collated from ringed birds (n = 12) well museum study skins housed National Museum, Bloemfontein 22), Durban Natural Science Museum 2) East London 17). Biometric were taken sexes included culmen, tarsus, hind claw, wing tail lengths body mass. Male significantly longer-winged had longer tails females (wing: t 5.239; df 50; P < 0.05; tail: 2.310; 0.05). Mean 86.5 mm males 82.7 females, while 67.0 64.3 females. Hind claw differed between (t -2.227; 29; 0.05), although metric probably biased owing to small female sample size. No significant differences evident culmen tarsus or mass sexes. The only previous that reported morphometrics used much smaller size present study, details represents first detailed dataset based on bird ringing supplementary obtained skins. value specimens obtain again highlighted.