Abstract
This paper highlights representatives of the bird family Platysteiridae in the DR Congo which merit special conservation attention because of the following distinctive characteristics: (1) morphology (plumage coloration) that is unusual within family: sexual monomorphism or polymorphism in the male; (2) ecological specialisations: restricted to the forest canopy; occurring near the forest floor; restricted to the submontane zone; or restricted to a single vegetation type.
These species occur mainly outside nature reserves, and thus urgently require additional protection. The morphological diversity of Batis erlangeri in DR Congo is also discussed and a colonisation history of its southern population is suggested.
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Louette, M. (2005). Conservation Priorities and Geographical Variation in Flycatchers (Aves: Platysteiridae) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In: African Biodiversity. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-24320-8_26
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-24320-8_26
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-24315-3
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-24320-7
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