NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Nutmeg Mannikin
Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata), known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch, is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia. A species of the genus Lonchura, it was formally described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its name is based on the distinct scale-like feather markings on the breast and belly. The adult is brown above and has a dark conical bill. The species has 11 subspecies across its range, which differ slightly in size and colour. This munia eats mainly grass seeds apart from berries and small insects. They forage in flocks and communicate with soft calls and whistles. The species is highly social and may sometimes roost with other species of munias. This species is found in tropical plains and grasslands. Breeding pairs construct dome-shaped nests using grass or bamboo leaves. The species is endemic to Asia and occurs from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines (where it is called mayang pakíng).
Wikipedia contributors, Scaly-breasted munia; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T04:45:56.500794+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Name authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Common name
- Nutmeg Mannikin
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Lonchura
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classAves
- orderPasseriformes
- familyEstrildidae Bonaparte, 1850
- genusLonchura Sykes, 1832
- speciesLonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Lonchura. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-headed MuniaLonchura malacca (Linnaeus, 1766) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Black-faced MuniaLonchura molucca (Linnaeus, 1766) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Eastern Alpine MuniaLonchura monticola (De Vis, 1897) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Five-colored MuniaLonchura quinticolor (Vieillot, 1807) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| White-rumped MuniaLonchura striata (Linnaeus, 1766) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Black MuniaLonchura stygia Stresemann, 1934 | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Magpie MannikinLonchura fringilloides (Lafresnaye, 1835) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Black-throated MuniaLonchura kelaarti (Jerdon, 1863) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Javan MuniaLonchura leucogastroides (Moore, 1858) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Great-billed MuniaLonchura grandis (Sharpe, 1882) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Dusky MuniaLonchura fuscans (Cassin, 1852) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Chestnut-breasted MuniaLonchura castaneothorax (Gould, 1837) | EstrildidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Oceania
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=179619 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:3VYFF. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.