Butorides+striata+1

__** Striated heron, //Butorides striata// (Linnaeus, 1758) **__ Meet striated heron, the fisherman bird! Equipped with a natural fishing rod (a long extensible neck) and bait (sometimes), this patient bird is commonly seen on Singapore beaches, canals, ponds and lakes waiting patiently for fishes . Below is a video of the ‘fisherman behaviour’ of the striated heron!

media type="youtube" key="Cl8guq4gl60" width="560" height="315" align="center"

Video credit: Richard White (Permission Pending)

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=** 1. Common misconceptions **= a) “It’s a duck!” “It’s a crane!”  While the striated heron is found near waterbodies, it is __NOT a duck nor crane.__ However, the striated heron is closely related to a bunch of other water birds with long necks called herons and egrets.

**What it is not** Photo credit: Richard Bartz (Creative Commons). Photo credit: J.M. Crag (Creative Commons) **What it is** b) “It has a short neck.” Most of the time, the neck of the striated heron is retracted and looks short. However, this bird is capable of stretching its neck to extreme lengths.



c) “They have it in the North too!”  The northern hemisphere has a bird that looks exactly like the striated heron __EXCEPT with a red neck__. The “red-necked striated heron” was once considered to be the same species as the striated heron. Today, the northern “red-necked striated heron” is now known as green heron, //Butorides virescens// – a completely different species  . For more information on the split, __click here!__    Photo credit: JJ Harrison (Creative commons). Photo credit: Gerry Herd (Permission pending).

= 2. Diagnostics =

__ a) Diagnostics (General)__

1. Dark bill: Upper bill brown-black and lower bill dusky green 2. Lore: Dull yellow green with black portions 3. Iris: Orange-yellow, deep orange in courtship 4. Crown: Glossy green-black 5. Chin and throat: White 6. Under eye from bill: Dark line 7. Breast: Light grey 8. Crest: Erectile, same colour as crown 9. Back: Dark grey, green cast, longer feathers near tail 10. Flight feathers: Black with buff edges 11. Legs: Glossy orange in courtship. Olive grey and yellow green otherwise

__ b) Diagnostics (Bird-in-Flight)__

1. Retracted head 2. Obvious yellow soles and hind tarsus 3. Rapid deliberate beats using round wings 4. Low flying __ c) Diagnostics (Comparison with other small herons found in Singapore)__  __ d) Diagnostics (Comparison between juveniles)__
 * = **Common name** ||= **Striated Heron ** ||= **Black-crowned night heron** ||= **Malayan night heron ** ||
 * = **Species name** ||= //Butorides striata // ||= //Nycticorax nycticorax // ||= //Gorsachius melanolophus // ||
 * = **Photo comparison** ||= [[image:Striated heron on sp comparison.png width="252" height="246" caption="Photo credit: Francis Yap (Permission granted)"]] ||= [[image:Black-crowned night heron.png width="260" height="250" caption="Photo credit: Francis Yap (Permission granted)"]] ||= [[image:malaysian-night-heron_alanng.jpg width="253" height="253" caption="Photo credit: Alan Ng (Permission granted)"]] ||
 * = **Nape plumes (Feather from neck)** ||= Long black nape plumes ||= Whitish nape plumes ||= Long black plume on crest (Compare to nape plumes) ||
 * = **Bill** ||= Black bill with yellow base ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Black bill ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Dark brown upper bill, greenish lower bill ||
 * = **Plumage** ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Slaty gray plumage ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Gray-white plumage ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Brown plumage with white belly and flank ||
 * = **Common name** ||= **Striated heron (juvenile)** ||= **Black-crowned night heron** ||
 * = **Species name** ||= //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Butorides striata // ||= //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Nycticorax nycticorax // ||
 * = **Photo comparison** ||= [[image:Striated heron juv.jpg width="218" height="171" caption="Photo credit: Zahidi Hamid (Permission granted)"]] ||= [[image:BCNH juv.jpg width="216" height="168" caption="Photo credit: Francis Yap (Permission granted)"]] ||
 * = **Plumage** ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Darker brown ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Duller brown ||
 * = **Crown** ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Darker brown than general plumage ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Almost similar to plumage colour ||
 * = **Bill** ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Longer and slimmer ||= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Shorter and more stout ||

3. Distribution and range Global distribution and range of striated heron. Photo credit: eBird (Fair use) The continental range of striated heron includes South America, Africa, Asia and Australia where mangroves and swamps are relatively abundant. As aforementioned, striated herons and green herons have been split. This distribution data accounts for the post-split.

♦Striated herons are one of the most common small herons in Singapore ♦It is spotted near any substantial water body in Singapore ♦Striated heron hotspots: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji Marshland, Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, Seletar Dam and Lorong Halus
 * Singapore sightings**

1. In and under bushes next to pools and watercourses 2. Marshland or similar open areas
 * Where to find**

=4. Biology=

From cradle to grave, this section looks at the life cycle and biology of the striated heron in three parts: (a) Courtship and nesting (b) Egg and chicks (c) Matured individual’s behaviour __**(a) Courtship and nesting**__ During courtship, striated herons pairs are known to exhibit several behaviours which include ♦ circle/pursuit flights ♦ crest raising by male ♦ calls such as “skow” by males and “coos” by females ♦ snap & stretch and side-side sway paired displays 3].



If successful, both male and female will construct the nest together. Nesting usually happens in pair but sometimes nesting family groups are seen. During nesting, both parents are known to protect the nest. When threatened, the parents warn the aggressors by making alarm calls with extended neck, erected crest and raised body feathers. The chance of successful nesting is only 39%. This is due to climacteric factors such as storms and high tides or __predation of eggs and juveniles__. media type="youtube" key="T0odXW2qW1U" width="433" height="250" align="center"

Nesting of striated heron. Video credit: sunch 28 (Creative commons) __ **b) Eggs and chicks** __ Upon completion of nests, 2-5 pale green-blue eggs are laid, and incubated by both male and female adult herons. The eggs are incubated for around 22 days before hatching while the whole hatching process takes about 3-4 days. Striated heron eggs are also known to hatch asynchronously – each hatching at a separate time. The chicks hatched are semi-altricial (Semi-dependent on parents) but it takes only one week for the chicks to become precocial (Independent). After a mere 14 days, chicks are seen leaving their nests 3] . Both the eggs and juveniles are threatened by predation from the following 4] : ♦Crows (//Corvus// sp.) ♦[|Water dragon] (//Varanus// sp.) ♦[|Grey shrike-thrushes] (//Colluricincla harmonica//) ♦[|White-bellied sea eagle] (//Haliaeetus leucogaster//) The pictures below offers a quick summary on the characteristics of eggs and chicks. Photo credit: Didier Descouens (Creative commons). Photo credit: Geoff Hutchinson (Permission pending) __ **c) Matured individual’s behaviours** __ Matured individuals of striated herons are solitary (lonely). They are known to roost and forage alone 4] . That aside, perhaps the most well-known behaviour of striated herons is related to their feeding habits.

Striated herons employ a variety of foraging methods which includes standing, baiting and walking. The strictly carnivorous diet of striated herons consists of mainly fishes. Other food includes amphibians, spiders, leeches, [|crustaceans], [|molluscs], earthworms, [|polychaete worms], birds, small reptiles and mice.
 * i) Foraging behaviour**

The most common strategy employed is standing where the striated herons stands in a crouched waiting position next to or near shallow waters. While waiting, the body is held parallel to the water and maintained for 29-42 minutes before executing a successful strike. The strike involves extending its neck and lunging its head into the water to snare prey 3].

To improve their chances of snagging a prey, **baiting** is sometimes employed. Striated herons are known to use plant matter, captured insects, or even, leftover waste scraps to bait their prey. This mode of foraging is also seen in several members of the Ardeidae (heron) family – including the green heron sister species 1]

Here’s another video of the baiting behaviour of striated herons! This time with a catch :) media type="youtube" key="mRQN5jSueSg" width="383" height="220" align="center"

Video credit: nickhassanali (Permission pending) The less common hunting strategy of **walk-fishing** is sometimes employed. This strategy, although less intriguing, is therapeutic to watch. The walking speed of striated herons when hunting are known to be very slow. A published article has shown that it takes 30 seconds for an individual to just lift up a leg 3]

**ii) Other behaviours**  Threatened When threatened, the stria<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">ted heron either remains motionless and slowly turns its face towards the intruder or it clambers out of the nest to climb onto a branch or leap into mud/water 4]   <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Vocalisation <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Not a vocal bird, striated herons rarely call. More common events for calling include <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Courtship (utter sneezing “tch-ahh” and explosive “hoo”) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Startled (“kew kew chit chit kew”) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Flight (chuckling)

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> How does a striated heron sound like? (Voice recording of flight call) media type="custom" key="28865884" align="center"

Recording credit: Frank Lambert (Creative commons)

=5. Status and conservation= Not a threatened bird in the world, the large range, large population and slow population decline have placed striated herons under the “Least Concern” category in IUCN. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> However, striated herons still suffer from anthropogenic threats such as human disturbance, pesticides and habitat destruction. In some countries, the striated herons are consumed as food <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">.

=6. Taxonomy and systematic= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**a) Taxonavigation:**__ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Kingdom**: Animalia <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Phylum**: Chordata <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Class**: Aves <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Order**: Pelicaniformes <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Family**: Ardeidae <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Genus**: //Butorides// Blyth, 1852 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **Species**: //Butorides striata// (Linneaus, 1758)

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> *Disclaimer: While ranks (eg. Kingdom, Phylum) are not informative, Taxon names (Animalia, Chordata) provide us with information on the characteristics of the species nested within. The usage of ranks is strictly for convenience.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**b) Nomenclature**__

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **i) Original description** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> //B. striata// was first described by Linneaus in 1758 under //Ardea striata// <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> . The text is given below:

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> The Latin text briefly translates to: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> “Back gray-striped, ferruginous under the neck, apex of secondary remiges white” <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Another subspecies was described in the same page which translates to: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> “Remiges dark tans, but secondarily margin white tips”

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **ii) Protonyms, synonyms and common names** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Protonym <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> : <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> //Ardea striata// Linneaus, 1758

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Synonyms <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> : <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> //Ardea striatus// (Linneaus, 1758) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> //Butorides striatus// (Linneaus, 1758)

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Common names <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> : <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Striated Heron, Little Heron, Green-backed Heron, Mangrove Heron

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **iii) Etymology (Origin of words)** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Species epithet, //striatus//, refers to the streak plumage of immatures 4] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> For the same reason, its common name “striated heron” has widespread usage. However, some birdwatchers prefer the name “little heron” as adults do not always show ant forms of striation.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**c) Butorides striata, one species or three species?**__ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> This species page assigns the name “//Butorides striata//” to the striated herons found in the southern hemisphere (including //Butorides striata sundevalli// from Madagascar). //Butorides virescens//, green heron from North and Central America, is classified under a separate sister species <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> . The rationale for this is given below.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Following Linneaus, the name B. striata was used for all three types of striated herons, //B. virescens//, //B. striata// and //B. striata sundevalli//.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> In 1990, Sibley and Monroe proposed for //B. striata sundevalli// to be split from B. striata based on DNA-DNA hybridisation works <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. The basis for their work was probably based on the distinct morphological difference between //B. striata sundevalli// and other //B. striata// subspecies. As DNA-DNA hybridisation stems off from DNA differences and evolutionary history, the proposed split to //B. sundevalli// implies the usage of Phylogenetic Species Concept. However, DNA-DNA hybridisation is primitive and has been known to be with several inaccuracies <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. Today, molecular differentiation has shown that the two populations are conspecific despite distinct morphological differences. This split was poorly received by many 15] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Later in 2003, the American Ornithologists' Union proposed a further split of //B. striata// to //B. striata// and //B. virescens// 15] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. This was based on works of Monroe and Browning (1992). There were low hybridisation rates and assortative mating between the two species in Central Panama (where they occur in sympatry) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. As the split was based upon reproductive isolation, it implies the usage of Biological Species Concept.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Most ornithology articles and web pages subscribe to the Biological Species Concept and only consider <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> //B. striata// and //B. virescens// to be separate species 14] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. A small population still considers //B. striata//, //B. sundevalli// and //B. virescens// to be separate species based on the Phylogenetic Species Concept.

//Butorides virescens//. Photo credit: Basar (Creative Commons). //Butorides striata sundeval//li. Photo credit: Benjamint444 (Creative commons). <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**d) Phylogeny**__ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **i) Position of B. striata in Aves** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Phylogenetic analysis by Hackett et al. (2008) based on Maximum Likelihood Analysis places //Butorides// (Genus of //B. striata//) is nested within Ardeidae <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. Maximum likelihood analysis by Jarvis et al. (2014) then showed that Ardeidae, in turn, belongs to a clade called Pelecaniiformes of the Aqueornithia (Core water birds clade) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">.
 * As this page believes that ranks are not informative, taxon names are used in place of ranks unless necessary.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **ii) Splitting within //Butorides// clade** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> The phylogenetic tree proposed by Huang et al. (2016) suggests that //B. virescens// and //B. striata// are sister species with high bootstrap support = 100. The phylogenetic tree was based upon 652bp CO1 sequences and used neighbour joining and maximum likelihood analysis as the optimal tree criteria. While Huang et al. (2016) only shows the NJ bootstrap support for the tree, the paper notes that the obtained trees using NJ and MLA were similar. With high node stability (from NJ) for the branching of //B. virescens// and //B. striata//, it would probably also appear as a stable node in MLA <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> The phylogenetic tree can be used as an indication for two different species based on different species concepts <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. By Biological Species Concept or Hennigan Species Concept, the MOTUs are distinctly different suggesting reproductive isolation. By the Phylogenetic Species Concept (sensu Wheeler and Platnick), it can be argued that they are different species as they can be considered as two different population (different geographical boundaries) with distinct character differences (based on the phylogenetic tree). By the Phylogenetic Species Concept (sensu Mishler and Theriot), it can be argued that they are monophyletic groups deemed worthy of recognition based on the high node stability.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> **iii) Uncertainty of clade positions in Ardeidae** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Despite recent molecular advancements, the relative positions of clades within Ardeidae have yet to be properly defined. Seen in the phylogenetic tree from Huang et al. (2016), the nodes separating the clades in Ardeinae are cluttered together, indicating rapid speciation and possibility of polytomy 24] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. In a separate baynesian and maximum likelihood tree (using complete mitochondrial DNA) by Zhou et al. (2014), the node stabilities for //Ardea//, //Butorides//, //Nycticorax// and //Egretta// are weak (below 80% based on maximum likelihood) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. Both phylogenetic trees indicate that more work has to be done in this field to properly resolve the relationships of clades within Ardeidae.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**e) Subspecies**__ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> When identifying striated heron outside Singapore, take note of the high variability in subspecies plumage. Size, neck and head colour may differ greatly <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> . <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Other variations: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦ Old world: Grey, rufous or intermediate (with white) forms. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦ New world: Brown-grey neck forms.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> The subspecies table below excludes <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> //B. s. virescens// (which the page considers a separate species, //B. virescens//, as per discussion above) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> The subspecies //Butorides striata javanica//* occurs in Singapore. media type="custom" key="28865942" align="center"

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Google spreadsheet of //B. striata// subspecies and their location.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**f) Type specimens**__ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> The available information of holotypes are //B. striata// subspecies. Also, no neotype has been assigned according to GBIF as of 11th Nov 2016 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> . <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Type specimen for Singapore's subspecies //B. s. javanicus// can be found in National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. It was collected from Langkawi Island, Malaysia <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">.

=7. Other information on striated heron= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**a) Singapore records**__

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Most records for striated herons in Singapore are pictures or videos on birding groups such as Bird Ecology Study Group or Bird Sightings <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Skin specimen of striated heron can be found on display in Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Wee & Wang, 2009, provides the only known Singapore documentation of striated heron in captivity. The record includes the behaviours and characteristics of a rescued striated heron chick for over a year. [|See more here] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> !

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> __**b) Parasites and viruses**__

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Cestode parasites: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Cestode parasites are common in striated heron's digestive systems. In a recent study, seven trematode species were found in the oral cavity, small intestines and cloaca of a young striated heron <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. The numbers can go up to 16 parasites. Striated heron is known to have a greater richness of parasites compared to other birds. On average, Aves birds only host three cestode parasites <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">. This may be attributed to striated herons' diverse diet and proximity to aquatic habitats.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> ♦Striated herons: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Striated herons are also hosts for viruses such as H5N1 and Venezuelan encephalitis <span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">.

=8. References=