Phenotypic status of the Namibian Violet Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis as detrmined by mass

Abstract

The Namibian Violet Woodhoopoe P. damarensis has an uncertain taxonomic status [4]. It is closely related to the Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus [4]. I provide some resolution to the phenotypic status of P. damarensis in comparison with the P. purpureus, using morphological details of body size i. e. mass [2]. The null hypothesis is P. damarensis is no difference in body mass compared with P. purpureus when wing, culmen, tail, and tarsi are kept constant. P. damarensis also may not have a significantly longer tail although the "tail [is] about 100 mm shorter than that of Violet Woodhoopoe" in P. purpureus (http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnardpaul/6742452723).