Wax digestion by Black-throated Honey-guides Indicator indicator
Abstract
The honey-guides (Indicatoridae) are brood parasites and specialist feeders on wax; the larger species obtain wax from bees' nests and the smaller ones from scale-insects or fruit (Friedmann 1955, Diamond 1985). The ability to digest beeswax has been demonstrated experimentally in only one bird species, the Lesser Honey-guide Indicator minor (Friedmann & Kern 1956a). Here we describe an experiment confirming the same ability in the Black-throated or Greater Honey-guide, 1.indicator, and discuss reasons for questioning Friedmann and Kern's claim that wax digestion in honey-guides need be accomplished hy symbiotic microorganisms.
URI
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1988.tb02724.x/abstract;jsessionidhttp://hdl.handle.net/11295/73346
Citation
Diamond, A. W. And Place, A. R. (1988), Wax Digestion By Black-throated Honey-guides Indicator Indicator. IBIS, 130(6), 558–561.Publisher
University of Nairobi