Hoatzin

Hoatzin
Temporal range: Miocene–present
At Manu National Park, Peru
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Opisthocomiformes
Family: Opisthocomidae
Genus: Opisthocomus
Illiger, 1811
Species:
O. hoazin
Binomial name
Opisthocomus hoazin
(Müller, 1776)
Range
Synonyms

Phasianus hoazin Müller, 1776

The hoatzin (/hoʊˈætsɪn/ hoh-AT-sin)[note 1] or hoactzin (/hoʊˈæktsɪn/ hoh-AKT-sin) (Opisthocomus hoazin)[4] is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco basins in South America. It is the only extant species in the genus Opisthocomus[5] which is the only extant genus in the Opisthocomidae family under the order of Opisthocomiformes.[6] Despite being the subject of intense debate by specialists, the taxonomic position of this family is still far from clear.

The hoatzin is notable for its chicks having primitive claws on two of their wing digits; the species also is unique in possessing a digestive system capable of fermentation and the effective breaking-down of plant matter, a trait more commonly known from herbivorous ungulate-ruminant mammals and some primates. This bird is also the national bird of Guyana, where the local name for this bird is Canje pheasant.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Opisthocomus hoazin". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684428A93028795. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684428A93028795.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Definition of hoatzin". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  3. ^ "HOATZIN English Definition and Meaning". Lexico Dictionaries. Lexico. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  4. ^ "hoatzin". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference HBW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Hoatzin, New World vultures, Secretarybird, raptors". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 12 March 2023.


Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).