Philepittidae

bird family
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Philepittidae, bird family, order Passeriformes, consisting of the asities and false sunbirds, four species of small birds confined to the forests of Madagascar.

Members range in size from 9 to 16.5 centimetres (3.5 to 6.5 inches) long. The two species of asities (Philepitta) are plump, stout-legged pitta-like birds that browse foliage for berries and other fruit. The false sunbirds (Neodrepanis) are smaller and have weak legs and longer down-curved bills with which they dip into flowers for nectar and small insects. They were formerly classified with the sunbirds (family Nectariniidae). All members have bare skin, or wattles, around the eyes.

The Philepittidae is currently placed in the suboscine suborder Tyranni, but certain anatomical features suggest that they are more closely allied to families in the suborder Eurylaimi.

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters
Britannica Quiz
Animal Group Names