bluethroated

Bluethroated is a common name applied to several unrelated species of birds and reptiles that share a distinctive blue coloration on the throat region. The term is most frequently associated with the bluethroated motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), a member of the Momotidae family native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, and the bluethroated skink (Scincus cyanothorax), a small lizard found in arid regions of the Middle East.

The bluethroated motmot measures about 30 centimetres in length and is characterised by a bright green plumage, a long tail with racket‑shaped tips, and a vivid blue patch extending across the throat and upper breast. It inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests, where it forages for insects, small vertebrates and fruit. Breeding pairs excavate tunnel nests in earthen banks, and both parents share incubation duties. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, although habitat loss due to deforestation poses localized threats.

The bluethroated skink is a slender, smooth‑scaled lizard measuring up to 12 centimetres in total length. Its dorsal surface is brownish, while the throat and anterior ventral area display a striking cobalt‑blue coloration that intensifies during the breeding season. The species prefers sandy or rocky substrates in scrubland and open woodland, where it feeds on insects and other small arthropods. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to live young after an incubation period of several months. The skink is not currently considered at risk, but its range overlaps with areas of expanding agriculture and urban development.

The shared descriptor “bluethroated” therefore refers to a conspicuous visual trait rather than a taxonomic relationship, illustrating convergent evolution of throat coloration across diverse animal lineages.