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(Redirected from Rhinocryptidae)
The 'tapaculos' are a group of small suboscine passeriform birds with numerous species, found mainly in South America and with the highest diversity in the Andean regions. Three species, the Choco, the Pale-throated and the Silvery-fronted Tapculo, are found in southern Central America. They were traditionally placed in a distinct family 'Rhinocryptidae'; more recent research (Irestedt ''et al.'' 2002, Rice 2005a,b) indicates that according to analysis of mt and nDNA sequence data, the tapaculos might be better merged into the Formicariidae as tribe 'Rhinocryptini', as they are closer to the antthrushes than either is to the true antpittas.
Alternatively, the latter might be raised to family status. In this case, it would be possible to maintain the tapaculos as a separate family too, but it would seem altogether more warranted to consider them a subfamily of the Formicariinae ''sensu stricto'', which would be called 'Rhinocryptinae'.
Whether this latter approach, the placement as a tribe in a tapaculo-antthrush Formicariinae subfamily, or maintenance as a separate family is to be preferred depends on whether the true antpittas are closer to the tapaculos and true antbirds, or rather to the ''Pittasoma'' "gnatthrushes" and other gnateaters and the true antbirds. There are some, albeit very tentative, indications that the latter may indeed be the case, which would be reflected in the placement of the tapaculos as subfamily Rhinocryptinae, with the Formicariinae being restricted to the true antthrushes (Rice 2005a).
It must be noted that apparently not ''all'' tapaculo genera would have to be moved to the formicariids (Irestedt ''et al.'' 2002). As the type genus ''Rhinocrypta'' certainly would, any distinct genera (such as the peculiar crescent-chests) would need a new family name.
The species-limits within the genus ''Scytalopus'' is among the most complex matters in Neotropical ornithology. They are highly cryptic, and identification using visual features often is impossible. Vocal and biochemical data is typically needed to clarify the taxonomic status of the various populations. Several new species have been described in recent years (e.g. ''S. stilesi'' and ''S. rodriguezi'' from Colombia). Maurício (2005) found that the otherwise relatively well known ''S. speluncae'' actually consisted of two species, of which the southern was described as a new species; ''S. pachecoi'', while the northern retained ''S. speluncae''. It was further suggested that ''S. speluncae'' included yet another undescribed species, but more work was needed on that matter. Furthermore, work by Raposo ''et al.'' (2006) cast doubt into the use of the scientific name ''S. speluncae'' for the Mouse-colored Tapaculo. Examining the type specimen of ''S. speluncae'' (Ménétriés, 1835) resulted in them attributing this to a population previously included within ''S. novacapitalis'' (vocally, this population is closer to ''S. pachecoi''). This meant that the Mouse-colored Tapaculo had to receive a new name; ''S. notorius'' ("notorius" to illustrate its problematic taxonomical history). Not all authorities have agreed on this. Additionally, still undescribed species are known to exist (e.g. the "Apurimac Tapaculo" and "Millpo Tapaculo"; both from Peru), while some species as currently defined actually may include several species (e.g. the southern population of the Large-footed Tapaculo may represent a yet undescribed species). The confusing situation is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that only 10 species were recognized in this genus in 1970 (Krabbe & Schulenberg, 2003), while the figure now is more than four times as high.
They are small to medium-sized birds, with a total length ranging from 10-24 cm (4-9½ in). These are terrestrial species that fly only poorly on their short wings. They have strong legs, well-suited to their habitat of grassland or forest undergrowth. The tail is cocked and pointed towards the head, and the name ''tapaculo'' possibly derives from Spanish for "cover your behind". Another possible explanation is that it originates from the Chilean name for the White-throated Tapaculo, simply ''Tapaculo'', which is an onomatopoeic reference to its commonly heard song.
While the majority of the family are small blackish or brown birds there are some larger and more colourful species. They are best located and - in the case of ''Scytalopus spp.'' - identified by their vocalisations.
They feed on insects, seeds and other soft plant material with their pointy bills, and will scratch on the ground like a pheasant.
Most species lay two or three white eggs in a covered location, whether it be a burrow, a hole in a tree, or a domed nest.
Some species have highly localized distributions, and being poor fliers, they easily become isolated in small populations. BirdLife International currently (2007) consider one species vulnerable (''Scytalopus panamensis''), three species endangered (''S. iraiensis'', ''S. rodriguezi'' and ''S. robbinsi''), and two species critically endangered (''S. psychopompus'' and ''Merulaxis stresemanni''). The two critically endangered species are restricted to Atlantic forest of eastern Brazil, and were only recently rediscovered after several years without any records.
'Genera allied with antthrushes'
★ 'Genus ''Pteroptochos''', the huet-huets
★
★ Black-throated Huet-huet, ''Pteroptochos tarnii''
★
★ Chestnut-throated Huet-huet, ''Pteroptochos castaneus''
★
★ Moustached Turca, ''Pteroptochos megapodius''
★ 'Genus ''Scytalopus''' (some 40-45 species)
★ 'Genus ''Scelorchilus'''Placement here needs confirmation.
★
★ White-throated Tapaculo, ''Scelorchilus albicollis''
★
★ Chucao Tapaculo, ''Scelorchilus rubecula''
★ 'Genus ''Rhinocrypta'''
★
★ Crested Gallito, ''Rhinocrypta lanceolata''
★ 'Genus ''Liosceles'''
★
★ Rusty-belted Tapaculo, ''Liosceles thoracicus''
'Probably a distinct family N.N.'
★ 'Genus ''Melanopareia''', the crescent-chests
★
★ Collared Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia torquata''
★
★ Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia maximiliani''
★
★ Elegant Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia elegans''
★
★ Maranon Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia maranonica''
★ 'Genus ''Teledromas'''
★
★ Sandy Gallito, ''Teledromas fuscus''
'Placement unresolved'
★ 'Genus ''Psilorhamphus'''
★
★ Spotted Bamboowren, ''Psilorhamphus guttatus''
★ 'Genus ''Merulaxis''', the bristlefronts
★
★ Slaty Bristlefront, ''Merulaxis ater''
★
★ Stresemann's Bristlefront, ''Merulaxis stresemanni''
★ 'Genus ''Eugralla'''
★
★ Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, ''Eugralla paradoxa''
★ 'Genus ''Myornis'''
★
★ Ash-colored Tapaculo, ''Myornis senilis''
★ 'Genus ''Acropternis'''
★
★ Ocellated Tapaculo, ''Acropternis orthonyx''
★ 'Irestedt', Martin; Fjeldså, Jon; Johansson, Ulf S. & Ericson, Per G.P. (2002): Systematic relationships and biogeography of the tracheophone suboscines (Aves: Passeriformes). ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '23'(3): 499–512. (HTML abstract)
★ Krabbe, N, and Schulenberg, T. (2003). Family Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos). Pp. 748-787 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., and Christie, D. eds. (2003). ''Handbook of Birds of the World.'' Vol. 8. Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-50-4
★ Maurício, G, (2005). ''Taxonomy of the southern population in the Scytalopus speluncae group, with the description of a new species and remarks on the sytematics and biogeography of the complex (Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae).'' Ararajuba. 13(1): 7-28.
★ Raposo, M., Stopiglia, R., Loskit, V., and Kirwin, G. (2006). ''The correct use of the name Scytalopus speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835), and the description of a new species of Brazilian tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformers: Rhinocryptidae).'' Zootaxa 1271: 37-56.
★ 'Rice', Nathan H. (2005a): Phylogenetic relationships of antpitta genera (Passeriformes: Formicariidae). ''Auk'' '122'(2): 673-683. [English with Spanish abstract] DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0673:PROAGP]2.0.CO;2 PDF fulltext
★ 'Rice', Nathan H. (2005b): Further Evidence for Paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes). ''Condor'' '107'(4): 910-915. [English with Spanish abstract] PDF fulltext
★ Status of the members of ''Rhinocryptidae'' BirdLife International (2007).
★ Tapaculo videos on the Internet Bird Collection
The 'tapaculos' are a group of small suboscine passeriform birds with numerous species, found mainly in South America and with the highest diversity in the Andean regions. Three species, the Choco, the Pale-throated and the Silvery-fronted Tapculo, are found in southern Central America. They were traditionally placed in a distinct family 'Rhinocryptidae'; more recent research (Irestedt ''et al.'' 2002, Rice 2005a,b) indicates that according to analysis of mt and nDNA sequence data, the tapaculos might be better merged into the Formicariidae as tribe 'Rhinocryptini', as they are closer to the antthrushes than either is to the true antpittas.
Alternatively, the latter might be raised to family status. In this case, it would be possible to maintain the tapaculos as a separate family too, but it would seem altogether more warranted to consider them a subfamily of the Formicariinae ''sensu stricto'', which would be called 'Rhinocryptinae'.
Whether this latter approach, the placement as a tribe in a tapaculo-antthrush Formicariinae subfamily, or maintenance as a separate family is to be preferred depends on whether the true antpittas are closer to the tapaculos and true antbirds, or rather to the ''Pittasoma'' "gnatthrushes" and other gnateaters and the true antbirds. There are some, albeit very tentative, indications that the latter may indeed be the case, which would be reflected in the placement of the tapaculos as subfamily Rhinocryptinae, with the Formicariinae being restricted to the true antthrushes (Rice 2005a).
It must be noted that apparently not ''all'' tapaculo genera would have to be moved to the formicariids (Irestedt ''et al.'' 2002). As the type genus ''Rhinocrypta'' certainly would, any distinct genera (such as the peculiar crescent-chests) would need a new family name.
| Contents |
| Taxonomy |
| Description |
| Threats and conservation |
| Species list |
| References |
| Footnotes |
| External links |
Taxonomy
The species-limits within the genus ''Scytalopus'' is among the most complex matters in Neotropical ornithology. They are highly cryptic, and identification using visual features often is impossible. Vocal and biochemical data is typically needed to clarify the taxonomic status of the various populations. Several new species have been described in recent years (e.g. ''S. stilesi'' and ''S. rodriguezi'' from Colombia). Maurício (2005) found that the otherwise relatively well known ''S. speluncae'' actually consisted of two species, of which the southern was described as a new species; ''S. pachecoi'', while the northern retained ''S. speluncae''. It was further suggested that ''S. speluncae'' included yet another undescribed species, but more work was needed on that matter. Furthermore, work by Raposo ''et al.'' (2006) cast doubt into the use of the scientific name ''S. speluncae'' for the Mouse-colored Tapaculo. Examining the type specimen of ''S. speluncae'' (Ménétriés, 1835) resulted in them attributing this to a population previously included within ''S. novacapitalis'' (vocally, this population is closer to ''S. pachecoi''). This meant that the Mouse-colored Tapaculo had to receive a new name; ''S. notorius'' ("notorius" to illustrate its problematic taxonomical history). Not all authorities have agreed on this. Additionally, still undescribed species are known to exist (e.g. the "Apurimac Tapaculo" and "Millpo Tapaculo"; both from Peru), while some species as currently defined actually may include several species (e.g. the southern population of the Large-footed Tapaculo may represent a yet undescribed species). The confusing situation is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that only 10 species were recognized in this genus in 1970 (Krabbe & Schulenberg, 2003), while the figure now is more than four times as high.
Description
They are small to medium-sized birds, with a total length ranging from 10-24 cm (4-9½ in). These are terrestrial species that fly only poorly on their short wings. They have strong legs, well-suited to their habitat of grassland or forest undergrowth. The tail is cocked and pointed towards the head, and the name ''tapaculo'' possibly derives from Spanish for "cover your behind". Another possible explanation is that it originates from the Chilean name for the White-throated Tapaculo, simply ''Tapaculo'', which is an onomatopoeic reference to its commonly heard song.
While the majority of the family are small blackish or brown birds there are some larger and more colourful species. They are best located and - in the case of ''Scytalopus spp.'' - identified by their vocalisations.
They feed on insects, seeds and other soft plant material with their pointy bills, and will scratch on the ground like a pheasant.
Most species lay two or three white eggs in a covered location, whether it be a burrow, a hole in a tree, or a domed nest.
Threats and conservation
Some species have highly localized distributions, and being poor fliers, they easily become isolated in small populations. BirdLife International currently (2007) consider one species vulnerable (''Scytalopus panamensis''), three species endangered (''S. iraiensis'', ''S. rodriguezi'' and ''S. robbinsi''), and two species critically endangered (''S. psychopompus'' and ''Merulaxis stresemanni''). The two critically endangered species are restricted to Atlantic forest of eastern Brazil, and were only recently rediscovered after several years without any records.
Species list
'Genera allied with antthrushes'
★ 'Genus ''Pteroptochos''', the huet-huets
★
★ Black-throated Huet-huet, ''Pteroptochos tarnii''
★
★ Chestnut-throated Huet-huet, ''Pteroptochos castaneus''
★
★ Moustached Turca, ''Pteroptochos megapodius''
★ 'Genus ''Scytalopus''' (some 40-45 species)
★ 'Genus ''Scelorchilus'''Placement here needs confirmation.
★
★ White-throated Tapaculo, ''Scelorchilus albicollis''
★
★ Chucao Tapaculo, ''Scelorchilus rubecula''
★ 'Genus ''Rhinocrypta'''
★
★ Crested Gallito, ''Rhinocrypta lanceolata''
★ 'Genus ''Liosceles'''
★
★ Rusty-belted Tapaculo, ''Liosceles thoracicus''
'Probably a distinct family N.N.'
★ 'Genus ''Melanopareia''', the crescent-chests
★
★ Collared Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia torquata''
★
★ Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia maximiliani''
★
★ Elegant Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia elegans''
★
★ Maranon Crescent-chest, ''Melanopareia maranonica''
★ 'Genus ''Teledromas'''
★
★ Sandy Gallito, ''Teledromas fuscus''
'Placement unresolved'
★ 'Genus ''Psilorhamphus'''
★
★ Spotted Bamboowren, ''Psilorhamphus guttatus''
★ 'Genus ''Merulaxis''', the bristlefronts
★
★ Slaty Bristlefront, ''Merulaxis ater''
★
★ Stresemann's Bristlefront, ''Merulaxis stresemanni''
★ 'Genus ''Eugralla'''
★
★ Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, ''Eugralla paradoxa''
★ 'Genus ''Myornis'''
★
★ Ash-colored Tapaculo, ''Myornis senilis''
★ 'Genus ''Acropternis'''
★
★ Ocellated Tapaculo, ''Acropternis orthonyx''
References
★ 'Irestedt', Martin; Fjeldså, Jon; Johansson, Ulf S. & Ericson, Per G.P. (2002): Systematic relationships and biogeography of the tracheophone suboscines (Aves: Passeriformes). ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '23'(3): 499–512. (HTML abstract)
★ Krabbe, N, and Schulenberg, T. (2003). Family Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos). Pp. 748-787 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., and Christie, D. eds. (2003). ''Handbook of Birds of the World.'' Vol. 8. Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-50-4
★ Maurício, G, (2005). ''Taxonomy of the southern population in the Scytalopus speluncae group, with the description of a new species and remarks on the sytematics and biogeography of the complex (Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae).'' Ararajuba. 13(1): 7-28.
★ Raposo, M., Stopiglia, R., Loskit, V., and Kirwin, G. (2006). ''The correct use of the name Scytalopus speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835), and the description of a new species of Brazilian tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformers: Rhinocryptidae).'' Zootaxa 1271: 37-56.
★ 'Rice', Nathan H. (2005a): Phylogenetic relationships of antpitta genera (Passeriformes: Formicariidae). ''Auk'' '122'(2): 673-683. [English with Spanish abstract] DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0673:PROAGP]2.0.CO;2 PDF fulltext
★ 'Rice', Nathan H. (2005b): Further Evidence for Paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes). ''Condor'' '107'(4): 910-915. [English with Spanish abstract] PDF fulltext
★ Status of the members of ''Rhinocryptidae'' BirdLife International (2007).
Footnotes
External links
★ Tapaculo videos on the Internet Bird Collection
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