Certhiidae

Northern Creepers and Allies

Family recognized by
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Showing: scientific names

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Certhiidae

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Auriparus flaviceps
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Certhia himalayana
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Troglodytes-troglodytes
Troglodytes-troglodytes
Certhia americana Bonaparte, 1838
Certhia brachydactyla Brehm, 1820

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General Description

Running up and down trees: treecreepers

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©2008-2009, The Biomimicry Institute. Some rights reserved external link
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The Biomimicry Institute
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The feet of treecreepers allow them to run both up and down tree trunks thanks to a rotating toe.

     
  "The tree-creeper is able to run up or down a tree with equal ease. Two toes on each foot point forwards for gripping the bark on the way up, and the other two point backwards for gripping while going down. The long sharp claws hook into the bark, and its stiff tail feathers are used as a prop as it moves up the tree." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:183)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
  • Foy, Sally; Oxford Scientific Films. 1982. The Grand Design: Form and Colour in Animals. Lingfield, Surrey, U.K.: BLA Publishing Limited for J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd, Aldine House, London. 238 p.
"Certhiidae". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/7565". Accessed 22 Mar 2010.