Acridotheres fuscus 
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Aves
Passeriformes
Sturnidae
- Not Evaluated
NE - No Alien Population
NA - Data Deficient
DD - Minimal Concern
MC - Minor
MN - Moderate
MO - Major
MR - Massive
MV
- General
- Distribution
- Impact
- Management
- Bibliography
- Contact
Common name
maina vao (Samoan), jungle myna (English)
Synonym
Similar species
Acridotheres tristis, Acridotheres javanicus
Summary
Acridotheres fuscus is native to India and south-east Asia and is now established in many Pacific islands. Acridotherea can be translated as “grasshopper hunter” - presumably an indication of its major food source in some parts of its native region. It is perceived as a problem to agricultural sectors dependant on crops. Both rural villages and urban areas are at risk of invasion. They feed off rubbish and food scraps and nest in any available spaces in houses and buildings. This behaviour and their close association with human habitations combine to cause a wide variety of problems for humans.
Species Description
The jungle myna is a 22 to 24cm grey-brownish bird with a tuft of feathers forming a small crest on the forehead and at the base of the bill which is not normally present on the common Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis). It has a black head with the upper areas being more grey-brown and the chin, breast and belly dark ashy-grey. It has a whitish underside, brownish wings and a typical yellow-orange beak. The jungle myna is sleeker than the common Indian myna and lacks the distinguishing yellow patch of skin on the posterior side of the eye. Interestingly, the colour of its iris is yellow in northern India, whereas in southern India, its bluish-white (Feare and Craig, 1999).
Notes
Mynas in India are also regarded as symbols of undying love, because they often pair for life. Maina is sometimes used as a term of endearment for young girls (Tidemann 2007).
Uses
Mynas are scavengers (Hails 1985, Kang et al. 1990). They can also kill numerous injurious insects, such as sheep and cattle ticks (Oliver 1955, Roots 1976).
Habitat Description
Jungle mynas are known to inhabit altitudes as high 2000m above sea level. However, they prefer lowlands and foothills of well-wooded deciduous, spacious areas which primarily includes tea plantations, villages and coastal plains (Feare & Craig 1999).
Reproduction
In southern India, breeding occurs during the months between February to May, while in the northern regions, April to June-July (Feare & Craig 1999). Typically, two broods are raised at one time with the clutch being 3-6 eggs in size. It is known that both sexes participate in the rearing of their young (Feare & Craig 1999).
Nutrition
Mynas are scavengers with a varied omnivorous diet consisting of insects, fruit, seeds and nectar. Mynas also devour insect pests on sheep and cattle, such as ticks (Oliver 1955, Roots 1976). Analysis showed that their stomach content consisted predominantly of grasshopper remains, as well as crickets, termites, beetles, ants, caterpillars and fly larvae. (Hails 1985; Kang et al. 1990; Feare & Craig 1999).
Pathway
Introduced by acclimatisation societies.
Principal source:
Compiler: IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
Updates with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment
Review: Dr. Charlotte Yap Aye May and Dr. Navjot S Sodhi, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. Singapore
Publication date: 2009-11-19
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Acridotheres fuscus. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=362 on 22-11-2024.
General Impacts
Jungle mynas may affect growers of commercial crops due to their love of fruit (Atkinson & Atkinson, 2000). In addition, there is concerns that this species may compete for nest sites with native species.
Management Info
Poisons such as avicides (starlacide DRC1339) were used against the jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus) with highly promising outcomes, in contrast to narcotics (Alphachloralose), herbicide and pesticide. Trapping is a commonly employed tactic. A variety of foraging traps are used. These include the Tidemann trap, decoy trap and the Kadavu trap. In addition, shooting and netting methods are sometimes used (Pierce, 2005).
