CubaPLUS Magazine

New Cuban bird is obtained by crossbreeding

By: Prensa Latina
Feb 09, 2018
New Cuban bird is obtained by crossbreeding

As tomegrito was named a bird result of the crossbreeding between the tomeguín de la tierra (tomeguin of the land) and the negrito, considered by the Cuban Ornithological Organization the only one existent in the country, was informed here. 

"I am master in Chemistry and I have always been interested in the subject of the endemic fauna conservation", expressed to the Matanzas’ weekly publication Giron, William Gomez Rodriguez, promoter and creator of this new species. 

"I performed a master degree which discussed at the Matanzas University (west) titled: Study of the reproductive behavior in captivity of the Melopyrrha nigra nigra, scientific name of the negrito, pet of a lot of Cubans because of its melodious song", he commented. 

Gomez Rodríguez explained that around this research emerged the idea to obtain this hybrid from the above mentioned species and, he added: "The couple that I used for the crossbreeding is formed by the negrito and the tomeguín like female and male, respectively." 

Several years ago William didn't achieve any bird, in spite of the enormous efforts and, thanks to its perseverance, a couple was born, her wife Licett Alvarez pointed out, according to the source. 

Gómez Rodríguez, who the people jokingly call him the self-employed biologist related that the morphology of both flying birds decides the couple's election, so the tomeguín is smaller than the negrito, which means greater possibilities when carrying out the sexual intercourse. 

"A bird similar to the negrito in length and size is obtained, with medium beak. It still has the brows and the typical tomeguin’s orange tie in a black body. It sings as its parents, not in an intermittent way but in a single piece", he added. 

The specialist pointed out that is very difficult to obtain the hybrid, because statistically each 14 eggs laid by the female just a young pigeon born, according to the weekly report. 

The tomegritos duet won the condition of Great Champion's in the last national event of ornithology, greater prize granted in the face of the impossibility to compete with the rest of the birds because of its condition of being unique and endemic, specified the publication.

Advertisement
Get it on Google Play