biology

Papuan spinetail

Papuan spinetail is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Papuan spinetail rather than just read about it. In short: The Papuan spinetail (Mearnsia novaeguineae), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papuan spine-tailed swift, is a species of swift native to the island of New Guinea. Description Mearnsia novaeguineae is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail.

Key takeaways

Papuan spinetail belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Papuan spinetail to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Papuan spinetail from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Description Mearnsia novaeguineae is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail. Tail spines extend up to 1 mm beyond the web of the tail. Head and upperparts glossy green-black, grey-throat with a white underside. Wings display hooked ends, and are widest at the middle before tapering into the body.

Distribution Endemic to New Guinea where it is widespread in the lowlands and hills up to 550 m. In 2004, the species was first recorded in Australia when three individuals were observed on Boigu Island, Queensland.

Habitat Forest edges, gardens and cleared areas with standing dead trees.

Food Flying insects.

Breeding Nests in high tree hollows, and may partially construct nest out of dry palm fibres.

Conservation Common and widespread species assessed as being of Least Concern, though population size appears to be decreasing.

References

Beehler, Bruce M.; & Finch, Brian W. (1985). Species Checklist of the Birds of New Guinea. RAOU Monograph No.1. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne. ISBN 0-9599823-2-9 Beehler, Bruce M.; Pratt, Thane K.; & Zimmerman, Dale A. (1986). Birds of New Guinea. Wau Ecology Handbook No.9. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02394-8 Coates, Brian J. (1985). The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Volume 1: Non-Passerines. Dover Publications: Alderley, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-0-7

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Papuan spinetail

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Papuan spinetail claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Papuan spinetail before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Papuan spinetail ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Papuan spinetail

In research: Papuan spinetail appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Papuan spinetail in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Papuan spinetail is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Apodiformes stubs, Birds described in 1879, Birds of New Guinea, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Papuan spinetail outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Papuan spinetail in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Papuan spinetail means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Papuan spinetail out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Papuan spinetail in simple terms?

The Papuan spinetail (Mearnsia novaeguineae), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papuan spine-tailed swift, is a species of swift native to the island of New Guinea. Description Mearnsia novaeguineae is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, round…

Why does Papuan spinetail matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Papuan spinetail?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Papuan spinetail.