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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Indicatoridae (honeyguides)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Piciformes

Species indigenous to southern Africa

Indicator indicator (Greater honeyguide) 

The Greater honeyguide occurs from Senegal through the Sahel to Ethiopia, extending south to many areas of southern Africa, where it lives in a wide variety of habitats. It mainly eats bees' products, and is famous for its tendency to lead humans to bees nests. It is a brood parasite, laying in a wide variety of bird nests. The female lays its egg while the hosts is out, destroying any existing eggs already in the nest. The eggs are laid in series of 4-7, each in a different nest, laying about 21 eggs in the whole breeding season. The chicks stays in the nest for roughly 38 days, after which they are fed by the host for 7-30, usually 7-10 days after leaving.

Indicator meliphilus (Pallid honeyguide, Eastern honeyguide)

Indicator minor (Lesser honeyguide) 

The Lesser honeyguide lives in sub-Saharan Africa, absent for the dense forests and arid areas, but otherwise occurring in a wide variety of habitats. It feeds on a wide range of insects, as well as a Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and the honey they produce. It is a brood parasite, laying mainly in barbets nests, laying about 18-20 eggs in the whole breeding season. Soon after the chick hatches it viciously kills the host birds chicks, with extraordinary strength.

Indicator variegatus (Scaly-throated honeyguide) 

Prodotiscus regulus (Brown-backed honeybird, Sharp-billed honeyguide)

Prodotiscus zambesiae (Green-backed honeybird, Slender-billed honeyguide)