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Oilbird

Steatornis caripensis Humboldt, FWHA 1817

The oilbird, locally known as the guácharo, is a bird species found in the northern areas of South America including the Caribbean island of Trinidad. It is the only species in the genus Steatornis, the family Steatornithidae, and the order Steatornithiformes. Nesting in colonies in caves, oilbirds are nocturnal feeders on the fruits of the oil palm and tropical laurels. They are the only nocturnal flying fruit-eating birds in the world. They forage at night, with specially adapted eyesight. However they navigate by echolocation in the same way as bats, one of the few birds to do so. They produce a high-pitched clicking sound of around 2 kHz that is audible to humans. Source: Wikipedia




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Classification
Order:
  Caprimulgiformes
Family:
  Steatornithidae
Genus:
   Steatornis
Scientific:
  Steatornis caripensis

Original description

Citation:
  Humboldt, FWHA 1817

Reference:
   Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 4 p.52

Protonym:
  Steatornis caripensis

Type locality:
  Caverns of Caripe, Cumand, Venezuela.

Link:
  https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/25915#page/54/mode/1up

Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  A820F1653743ABDF

Avibase ID:
  avibase-A820F165

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/A820F165

Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 555524

Geographic range:

  • Steatornis caripensis: locally from Panama and northern South America including Trinidad to western Bolivia
Source: Clements checklist
English:
Oilbird
Catalan:
Ocell de l'oli
Czech:
gvačaro jeskynní
Danish:
Fedtfugl
German:
Fettschwalm
Spanish:
Guácharo
Spanish (Spain):
Guácharo
Finnish:
rasvakehrääjä
French:
Guacharo des cavernes
Croatian:
uljašica
Hungarian:
zsírfecske
Icelandic:
Spikfugl
Italian:
Guaciaro
Japanese (romaji):
aburayotaka
Japanese:
アブラヨタカ
Lithuanian:
guacharas
Dutch:
Vetvogel
Norwegian Nynorsk:
Feittfugl
Norwegian:
Fettfugl
Polish:
tłuszczak
Portuguese:
Guácharo
Portuguese (Brazil):
guácharo
Portuguese (Portugal):
Guácharo
Russian:
Гуахаро
Slovak:
guačaro jaskynný
Serbian:
Uljana ptica (guačaro)
Swedish:
oljefågel
Ukrainian:
Гуахаро
Chinese:
油鸱
Chinese (Traditional):
油鴟

Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (1983):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 35th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 36th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 37th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 38th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 39th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 40th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 41st suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (1998):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 42nd suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 43rd suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 44th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 45th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 46th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 47th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 48th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 49th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 50th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 51st suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 52nd suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 53rd suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 54th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 55th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 56th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 57th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 58th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 59th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 60th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl. and addendum):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 62nd suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 63rd suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 64th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 65th suppl.):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Avilist 2025:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 00:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 01:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 02:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 03:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 04:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 05 (Jun 2012):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 05.1 (Oct 2012):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 06 (Nov 2013):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009):
Guacharo des cavernes ( Steatornis caripensis)
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993):
Guacharo des cavernes ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 1st edition:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2021:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2022:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2023:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2024:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 3rd edition:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 4th edition:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (as published):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2015:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2016:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2017:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2018:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Clements, version 2019:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 1.50:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 1.52:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 1.53:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 1.54:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 1.55:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2015:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2016:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2017:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2018:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2019:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2021:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2022:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2023:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
eBird version 2024:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 2nd edition:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
IOC World Bird Names, version 15.1:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Morony, Bock and Farrand:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Peters' Check-list of the Birds:
Steatornis caripensis
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original):
Steatornis caripensis
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition):
Steatornis caripensis
Sibley and Monroe (1993):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0:
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (24/10/2003):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (14/09/2005):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (16/07/2006):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (26/09/2007):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (01/05/2008):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (30/09/2009):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (19/08/2010):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (8/08/2011):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (8/02/2012):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (4/09/2012):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (17/03/2013):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (9/02/2014):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (16/02/2015):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (28/07/2016):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (22/04/2017):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (4/06/2018):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (6/06/2019):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (20/02/2020):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (8/06/2020):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (24/08/2021):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (24/07/2022):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (28/09/2023):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
South American Classification Committee (27/07/2024):
Oilbird ( Steatornis caripensis)
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Steatornis caripensis
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Steatornis caripensis

Taxonomic status:

Species status: full species

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Related taxa

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Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Bengali: ি঄ময়রফাডি
Bengali (transliteration): aẏēlabārḍa
Catalan: Guácharo, Ocell de l'oli
Czech: Gvacaro jeskynní, gvačaro jeskynní
Danish: Fedtfugl
German: Fettschwalm
English: Guacharo, Oilbird
English, HBW: Oilbird
English (IOC): Oilbird
English (United States): Oilbird
Esperanto: Guaĉaro, Gvaĉaro, Oleobirdo
Spanish: Guacharo, Guácharo, Huira pishco
Spanish (Chile): Guácharo
Spanish (Colombia): Guácharo
Spanish (Costa Rica): Guacharo, Guácharo
Spanish (Ecuador): Guácharo, Huira pishco
Spanish (Spain): Guácharo
Spanish (HBW): Oilbird
Spanish (Panama): Guácharo
Spanish (Peru): Guácharo
Spanish (Venezuela): Guácharo
Estonian: guahaaro, õlilind, õlilind (guahaaro)
Finnish: Rasvakehrääjä
French: Diablotin, Guacharo de Caripe, Guacharo des cavernes
Croatian: uljašica
Hungarian: zsírfecske
Icelandic: Spikfugl
Italian: Guaciaro
Japanese (romaji): aburayotaka
Japanese: アブラヨタカ
Kazakh: гуахаро
Kirghiz: гуахаро, семиз байкуш
Scientific: Steatornis caripennis, Steatornis caripensis, Steatornis carpensis
Lithuanian: Guacharai, Guacharas
Dutch: Vetvogel
Norwegian Nynorsk: Feittfugl
Norwegian: Fettfugl
Polish: tluszczak, tłuszczak
Portuguese: guácharo
Portuguese (Brazil): guacharo, Guácharo
Portuguese (Portugal): Guácharo
Russian: Гуахаро, Жиряк
Slovak: guačaro jaskynný, Guacharo jaskynný
Serbian: Uljana ptica (guačaro)
Swedish: Oljefågel
Turkish: Yağkuşu
Ukrainian: Гуахаро
Uzbek: гуахаро, жиряк
Chinese: 油鸱
Chinese (Traditional): 油鴟

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