Black-and-white mannikin

Black-and-white mannikin
In Douala, Cameroon
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Lonchura
Species:	L. bicolor
Binomial name
Lonchura bicolor (Fraser, 1843)
distribution[2]

The black-and-white mannikin or black-and-white munia (Lonchura bicolor) is a species of estrildid finch found in western and central Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 4,200,000 km². It is found in moist savanna and subtropical/tropical lowland moist forest habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as least concern. They are seedeaters, but are known to feed on algae.^[3]

Origin

Origin and phylogeny has been obtained by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena et al.^[4] Estrildinae may have originated in India and dispersed thereafter (towards Africa and Pacific Ocean habitats).

References

1. BirdLife International (2012). "Lonchura bicolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
2. Map based on IUCN data
3. Savalli, U.M. (1989) Black and White Mannikins Lonchura bicolor eating algae. Scopus 13: 136.
4. Arnaiz-Villena, A; Ruiz-del-Valle V; Gomez-Prieto P; Reguera R; Parga-Lozano C; Serrano-Vela I (2009). "Estrildinae Finches (Aves, Passeriformes) from Africa, South Asia and Australia: a Molecular Phylogeographic Study" (PDF). The Open Ornithology Journal. 2: 29–36. doi:10.2174/1874453200902010029.