Magdalena Tinamou
Encyclopedia
The Magdalena Tinamou, Crypturellus erythropus saltuarius, is a member of one of the most ancient bird families, the tinamou
s. It is endemic to the Magdalena River Valley
in Colombia
, and has been considered possibly extinct, as there are no confirmed records since the type specimen was collected in 1943. The most recent review consider it likely that it is extant, as locals have reported sightings in the 1970s and 1980s, an individual was apparently held in captivity until the early 1990s, and a few patches of forest remain in its presumed range. Additionally, a record was made in late 2008.
It is sometimes treated as a distinct species
, and sometimes as a subspecies
of the Red-legged Tinamou
. The SACC
rejected a proposal to elevate it to species status, arguing that the presently available data fail to support the split. BirdLife International
have followed this treatment; hence the Magdalena Tinamou was dropped from the 2008 IUCN Red List
.
or Greek
words. kruptos meaning covered or hidden, oura meaning tail, and ellus meaning diminutive. Therefore Crypturellus means small hidden tail.
, and the only other known specimen
(although its present whereabouts is unknown) was taken near Mariquita
in the Tolima Department (often erroneously listed as being in the Neiva Department [sic
]). Both are in the Magdalena River Valley
of Colombia. This species has traditionally been considered to inhabit of dry deciduous
forest and savanna, but the latter is now believed to be mistaken, and the classification of the forest as "dry" has perhaps been overstated. It may still survive in the few remnant foothill forests on the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental, and also on the eastern slope of the Serranía de San Lucas. The type specimen was taken at an altitude of about 150 m, while the second specimen was taken at an altitude of about 500 m.
. The habitat
in which it is found has been heavily modified for agriculture. Large areas of the Magdalena River Valley had been converted to pasture or cultivated as early as the mid-18th century, and most of the remaining wet forest was cleared during a government-sponsored colonisation and infrastructure development programme in the 1960s and 1970s. Flat alluvial portions of the valley are now used for intensive rice and cotton production, while undulating terrain has been converted to pastureland. This left only approximately 1-2 % of old secondary and primary forest. However, recent research collected information by local inhabitants suggesting that this bird still survives; tinamous are notoriously cryptic and not easily found. A recording was made near the type locality by Colombian ornithologist Oswaldo Cortés in late 2008. In addition to confirming the continued existence of the Magdalena Tinamou, it is hoped the recording (the first of the Magdalena Tinamou) can be used to better establish its taxonomic status (species or subspecies) through comparisons with recordings of other Red-legged Tinamou subspecies. The absence of data beyond plumage
(e.g. vocal analysis) was the main arguments presented by the SACC in 2006 for not accepting the Magdalena Tinamou as a separate species.
No conservation effort is currently underway. However, it was proposed to conduct ornithological surveys and interviews in San Calixto
/Convención
and the foothills on the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental above Pailitas
, the eastern foothills of Serranía de San Lucas, and between Pailitas and La Jagua de Ibirico
. It was also proposed to locate surviving forest patches using aerial photographs and assess the species's taxonomic position.
As mentioned above, the Magdalena Tinamou has been removed from the IUCN Red List, where now considered a subspecies of the widespread Red-legged Tinamou. The Magdalena Tinamou was classified as Critically Endangered
: D in the 2006 Red List, uplisted from Endangered in 1994.
Tinamou
The tinamous are a family comprising 47 species of birds found in Central and South America. One of the most ancient living groups of bird, they are related to the ratites. Generally ground dwelling, they are found in a range of habitats....
s. It is endemic to the Magdalena River Valley
Magdalena River Valley
The Magdalena River Valley is a valley in Colombia located within the Colombian Andes mountain ranges. The valley is specifically located between the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Oriental and crossed by the river of the same name, the Magdalena River....
in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, and has been considered possibly extinct, as there are no confirmed records since the type specimen was collected in 1943. The most recent review consider it likely that it is extant, as locals have reported sightings in the 1970s and 1980s, an individual was apparently held in captivity until the early 1990s, and a few patches of forest remain in its presumed range. Additionally, a record was made in late 2008.
It is sometimes treated as a distinct species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, and sometimes as a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Red-legged Tinamou
Red-legged Tinamou
The Red-legged Tinamou or Red-footed Tinamou,Crypturellus erythropus, is a dumpy, ground-dwelling bird found in the tropics and lower subtropics of northern South America..-Description:...
. The SACC
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
rejected a proposal to elevate it to species status, arguing that the presently available data fail to support the split. BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
have followed this treatment; hence the Magdalena Tinamou was dropped from the 2008 IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
.
Etymology
Crypturellus is formed from three LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
or Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words. kruptos meaning covered or hidden, oura meaning tail, and ellus meaning diminutive. Therefore Crypturellus means small hidden tail.
Description
The Magdalena Tinamou is similar to Red-legged Tinamou. Its total length is approximately 27 to 32 cm (10.6 to 12.6 in). It is a medium-sized, brown tinamou. Its upperparts are dark ruddy with black barring on rump, it has brown wings that have buff barring, it has paler underparts with dark barring on its lower flanks and vent, and its chin is white with a greyish tinge to its throat.Ecology
The type specimen was taken in Ayacucho in the Cesar DepartmentCesar Department
Cesar Department or simply Cesar is a department of Colombia located in the north of the country in the Caribbean region, bordering to the north with the Department of La Guajira, to the west with the Department of Magdalena and Department of Bolivar, to the south with Department of Santander, to...
, and the only other known specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
(although its present whereabouts is unknown) was taken near Mariquita
Mariquita, Tolima
San Sebastian de Mariquita is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, about north of 180 km from Bogotá. This town and municipality contains several very Important Spanish settlements that were located here due to its vicinity to the Magdalena River...
in the Tolima Department (often erroneously listed as being in the Neiva Department [sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
]). Both are in the Magdalena River Valley
Magdalena River Valley
The Magdalena River Valley is a valley in Colombia located within the Colombian Andes mountain ranges. The valley is specifically located between the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Oriental and crossed by the river of the same name, the Magdalena River....
of Colombia. This species has traditionally been considered to inhabit of dry deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
forest and savanna, but the latter is now believed to be mistaken, and the classification of the forest as "dry" has perhaps been overstated. It may still survive in the few remnant foothill forests on the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental, and also on the eastern slope of the Serranía de San Lucas. The type specimen was taken at an altitude of about 150 m, while the second specimen was taken at an altitude of about 500 m.
Status and conservation
The Magdalena Tinamou is probably threatened from hunting and deforestationDeforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. The habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
in which it is found has been heavily modified for agriculture. Large areas of the Magdalena River Valley had been converted to pasture or cultivated as early as the mid-18th century, and most of the remaining wet forest was cleared during a government-sponsored colonisation and infrastructure development programme in the 1960s and 1970s. Flat alluvial portions of the valley are now used for intensive rice and cotton production, while undulating terrain has been converted to pastureland. This left only approximately 1-2 % of old secondary and primary forest. However, recent research collected information by local inhabitants suggesting that this bird still survives; tinamous are notoriously cryptic and not easily found. A recording was made near the type locality by Colombian ornithologist Oswaldo Cortés in late 2008. In addition to confirming the continued existence of the Magdalena Tinamou, it is hoped the recording (the first of the Magdalena Tinamou) can be used to better establish its taxonomic status (species or subspecies) through comparisons with recordings of other Red-legged Tinamou subspecies. The absence of data beyond plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
(e.g. vocal analysis) was the main arguments presented by the SACC in 2006 for not accepting the Magdalena Tinamou as a separate species.
No conservation effort is currently underway. However, it was proposed to conduct ornithological surveys and interviews in San Calixto
San Calixto
San Calixto is a Colombian municipality located in the department of North Santander.-References:...
/Convención
Convención
Convención is a Colombian municipality located in the department of North Santander.-References:...
and the foothills on the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental above Pailitas
Pailitas
Pailitas is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Cesar.-External links:...
, the eastern foothills of Serranía de San Lucas, and between Pailitas and La Jagua de Ibirico
La Jagua de Ibirico
La Jagua de Ibirico is a town and municipality in the Department of Cesar, Colombia. This region of La Jagua is rich in coal which is exploited extensively and is second only to El Cerrejon in La Guajira...
. It was also proposed to locate surviving forest patches using aerial photographs and assess the species's taxonomic position.
As mentioned above, the Magdalena Tinamou has been removed from the IUCN Red List, where now considered a subspecies of the widespread Red-legged Tinamou. The Magdalena Tinamou was classified as Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
: D in the 2006 Red List, uplisted from Endangered in 1994.