Scientific Name of Common Myna: Types & Characteristics

Key Terms: Common Myna, Indian Myna, Scientific Name, Genus, Sri Lankan Myna, Omnivores, Taxonomy, Kingdom, Phylum

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Scientific Name of Common Myna

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The scientific name of the common myna is Acridotheres tristis. The common myna falls under the family of Sturnidae, which also consists of starlings and other medium-sized passerine birds. It typically has two identified subspecies. 

• Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis tristis)
• Sri Lankan Myna (Acridotheres tristis melanosternus)

Common Myna

Indian Myna

The Indian Myna can be generally found in Southern India. The scientific name of the Indian Myna is Acridotheres tristis tristis. Other than India alone, it can also be in eastern Iran, Malay peninsula, southern Kazakhstan and southern China. Generally, the Indian Myna has a black-hooded head, consistent brown plumage and yellow patches behind the eye. 

Sri Lankan Myna

The Sri Lankan Myna can be vastly found in Sri Lanka itself. The Sri Lankan Myna is very different from the Indian Myna due to its much darker shade, and black plumage. The Sri Lankan Myna has a bi-coloured bill and tiny white steaks on its wings. Typically, the average male Myna weight is about 109 grams, while it is between 120 – 138 grams for the average female. Its average body length is about 9 inches.

Read More: Salient Features of Kingdom Monera 

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Classification of Common Myna

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The Common Myna can be classified as:

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Characteristics of Common Myna

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There are several characteristics of the Common Myna. Some of them include:

• Common mynas are generally considered omnivorous birds which feed upon insects, crustaceans, arachnids, small mammals, reptiles, seeds, grain, and fruits. They also generally feed on discarded human waste.
• Although the Sri Lankan Myna is native to Asia, it is also broadly found in many other parts of the world, including the United States, Israel, South Africa, Canada, Mauritius, Madagascar and Kyrgyzstan.
• Common mynas are usually considered social birds which mostly roost communally through an entire year, either in pure or mixed flocks with rosy starlings, jungle mynas, house or jungle crows, cattle egrets, and other birds.
• It has received its generic name Acridotheres, which literally means “Grasshopper hunter”.

Read More:

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Previous Year Questions

1. The process of growth is maximum during … (NEET 2020)
2. Small mammals and birds are rarely found in polar regions … (KCET 2021)
3. Which of the following is not an attribute of a population … (NEET 2020)
4. Read the statements given below and identify the incorrect statement… (KCET 2012)
5. Which one of the following statements about certain given animals is correct?... (NEET 2010)
6. Which of the following organisms possesses characteristics of a plant and an animal? (NEET 1995)
7. Which one of the following is oviparous?... (NEET 2015)
8. Which of the following taxonomic categories of housefly is… (KEAM)
9. A sedentary sea anemone gets attached … (NEET 2013)
10. A biologist studied the population of rats in a barn … (NEET 2013)
11. Bladderworm/cysticercus is the larval stage of… (NEET 1991)
12. Edaphology is… (KCET 2007)

Also Check: Taxonomic Hierarchy of Plants and Animals

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Things to Remember

• The scientific name of Common Myna is Acridotheres tristis and its family is Sturnidae.
• The common myna has two identified subspecies, Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis tristis) and the Sri Lankan Myna (Acridotheres tristis melanosternus).
• The Indian Myna typically has a black-hooded head, brown plumage and yellow patches behind the eye. 
• The Sri Lankan Myna typically has a bi-coloured bill and very small white steaks on its wings.