Arses is a genus of monarch flycatchers in the family Monarchidae. The genus is restricted to forest and second growth on the island of New Guinea, a few surrounding islands and northern Queensland, Australia. The genus is separated by their frilled necks, fleshy blue eye wattles and delicate pendent nests. They also have a distinctive foraging technique, hopping up tree trunks in a spiral fashion.
| Arses | |
|---|---|
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| Frill-necked monarch, Arses lorealis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Monarchidae |
| Genus: | Arses Lesson, 1831 |
| Type species | |
| Muscicapa telescophthalmus[1] Lesson & Garnot, 1827 | |
| Species | |
see text | |
Taxonomy
The genus Arses was introduced by the French naturalist René Lesson in 1831.[2] The type species was subsequently designated as the frilled monarch (Arses telescopthalmus) by English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1840.[3] The genus name is from the Persian king Arses who ruled from 338 until 336 BC.[4]
The genus contains four species:[5]
| Image | Common Name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ochre-collared monarch | Arses insularis | northern New Guinea. | |
| Frilled monarch | Arses telescopthalmus | New Guinea | |
 | Frill-necked monarch | Arses lorealis | northern Cape York Peninsula in Australia. |
 | Pied monarch | Arses kaupi | Queensland in Australia. |
References
- Clement, P (2006) Family Monarchidae (Monarch-flycatchers); in del Hoyo J, Elliott A & Christie D eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol 11 Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barecelona. ISBN 978-84-96553-06-4