Mouse-coloured Tapaculo
Encyclopedia
The Mouse-coloured Tapaculo or Serra do Mar Tapaculo (Scytalopus speluncae) is a species of bird
in the Rhinocryptidae family. It is endemic to humid highland forests in southeastern Brazil
, where it ranges from southwestern Espírito Santo
to northeastern Rio Grande do Sul
. Most of its range is in the Serra do Mar
, but it also occurs further inland in Paraná
and Santa Catarina
. Until 2005, the Planalto Tapaculo
was included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo.
Here we follow SACC, but the taxonomy
is extremely complex, and it is possible the correct scientific name of this relatively dark species is S. notorius, in which case the closely related paler species
from the Espinhaço Mountains
region would be S. speluncae.
, 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.
from the Espinhaço Mountains
that previously was included within S. novacapitalis
(vocally, this population is closer to S. pachecoi). This meant that the relatively dark population of the Serra do Mar
region –the population that traditionally had been called S. speluncae– had to receive a new name: S. notorius ("notorius" to illustrate its problematic taxonomic history). This conclusion was questioned in in 2007, which maintained that the population of the Serra do Mar region is S. speluncae, while the population of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains was considered undescribed, and the population of the northernmost Espinhaço Mountains was described as a new species, S. diamantinensis
. Although the possibility of two species in the Espinhaço Mountains was not questioned in an article published the following year, the conclusion that the name S. speluncae belonged to the species of the Serra do Mar was; mainly on the basis that no direct comparison of the type specimen of S. speluncae had been made in 2007 (unlike in the article from 2006). In 2010, other authors came to a different conclusion, as they suggested the original description by Édouard Ménétries
in 1835 more closely matched the relatively dark species of the Serra do Mar region. They also concluded that the original type locality of São João del Rei
(within the range of the relatively pale central and south Espinhaço Mountains species) provided by Ménétries was incorrect, and it actually was collected somewhere in central Rio de Janeiro
(within the range of the Serra do Mar species). Following this, the relatively pale species of the southern and central Espinhaço Mountains region was described as a new species, S. petrophilus. This view was supported by SACC.
Phylogenetic evidence suggests that undescribed taxa from the genus Scytalopus
remain in eastern Brazil.
-grey in colour, and what was included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo until 2005 is very different from what would be included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo today. Additionally, the relatively pale species
of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains has been called the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo (used briefly by Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos, but not anymore), which could add additional confusion. The name Serra do Mar Tapaculo for the species of the Serra do Mar region is also potentially misleading, as it is not entirely restricted to this mountain range, but also occurs far inland in Paraná
and Santa Catarina
.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Rhinocryptidae family. It is endemic to humid highland forests in southeastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where it ranges from southwestern Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
to northeastern Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
. Most of its range is in the Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil, which runs in parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of Espírito Santo to southern Santa Catarina, although some include Serra Geral in the Serra do Mar, in which case this range...
, but it also occurs further inland in Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
and Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
. Until 2005, the Planalto Tapaculo
Planalto Tapaculo
The Planalto Tapaculo is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Scytalopus, a genus of tapaculos. It was previously included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo but was described as a new species in 2005 based on differences in plumage and vocalizations.It is about 12 cm long and weighs...
was included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo.
Here we follow SACC, but the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
is extremely complex, and it is possible the correct scientific name of this relatively dark species is S. notorius, in which case the closely related paler species
Rock Tapaculo
The Rock Tapaculo or Espinhaço Tapaculo is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family. It is endemic to altitudes of in the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains, and the Mantiqueira Mountains in Minas Gerais, Brazil, though it may also occur in adjacent parts of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo...
from the Espinhaço Mountains
Espinhaço Mountains
The Espinhaço Mountains is a mountain range in Brazil. The range runs roughly north and south through the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia, and forms the divide between the upper watershed of the São Francisco River and those of the shorter rivers which flow east into the Atlantic, including the...
region would be S. speluncae.
Taxonomy
In 2005, it was found that the otherwise relatively well known S. speluncae actually consisted of two speciesSpecies
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...
, of which the southern was described
Bird species new to science described in the 2000s
This page details the bird species described as new to science in the years 2000 to 2010:-Number of species described per year:-Countries with high numbers of newly described species:* Brazil* Colombia* Peru* Indonesia-2000:...
as a new species, S. pachecoi
Planalto Tapaculo
The Planalto Tapaculo is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Scytalopus, a genus of tapaculos. It was previously included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo but was described as a new species in 2005 based on differences in plumage and vocalizations.It is about 12 cm long and weighs...
, 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.
Scientific name
In 2006, doubt about the use of the scientific name S. speluncae for the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo surfaced. An examination of the type specimen of S. speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835) resulted in the conclusion that this name belonged to a relatively pale populationRock Tapaculo
The Rock Tapaculo or Espinhaço Tapaculo is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family. It is endemic to altitudes of in the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains, and the Mantiqueira Mountains in Minas Gerais, Brazil, though it may also occur in adjacent parts of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo...
from the Espinhaço Mountains
Espinhaço Mountains
The Espinhaço Mountains is a mountain range in Brazil. The range runs roughly north and south through the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia, and forms the divide between the upper watershed of the São Francisco River and those of the shorter rivers which flow east into the Atlantic, including the...
that previously was included within S. novacapitalis
Brasília Tapaculo
The Brasília Tapaculo is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(vocally, this population is closer to S. pachecoi). This meant that the relatively dark population of the Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil, which runs in parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of Espírito Santo to southern Santa Catarina, although some include Serra Geral in the Serra do Mar, in which case this range...
region –the population that traditionally had been called S. speluncae– had to receive a new name: S. notorius ("notorius" to illustrate its problematic taxonomic history). This conclusion was questioned in in 2007, which maintained that the population of the Serra do Mar region is S. speluncae, while the population of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains was considered undescribed, and the population of the northernmost Espinhaço Mountains was described as a new species, S. diamantinensis
Diamantina Tapaculo
The Diamantina Tapaculo is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family. It was described as a new species in 2007, and is endemic to Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, Brazil. In the same region, another species, the Sincorá Antwren, was described in 2007...
. Although the possibility of two species in the Espinhaço Mountains was not questioned in an article published the following year, the conclusion that the name S. speluncae belonged to the species of the Serra do Mar was; mainly on the basis that no direct comparison of the type specimen of S. speluncae had been made in 2007 (unlike in the article from 2006). In 2010, other authors came to a different conclusion, as they suggested the original description by Édouard Ménétries
Édouard Ménétries
Édouard Ménétries was a French entomologist, zoologist, and herpetologist.Ménétries was born in Paris, and became a student of Georges Cuvier and Pierre André Latreille. On their recommendation he was chosen as the zoologist on a Russian expedition to Brazil in 1822, led by Baron von Langsdorff...
in 1835 more closely matched the relatively dark species of the Serra do Mar region. They also concluded that the original type locality of São João del Rei
São João del Rei
São João del-Rei also spelled São João del Rey or São João del Rei is a historical city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.Population: 40,600 inhabitants....
(within the range of the relatively pale central and south Espinhaço Mountains species) provided by Ménétries was incorrect, and it actually was collected somewhere in central Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
(within the range of the Serra do Mar species). Following this, the relatively pale species of the southern and central Espinhaço Mountains region was described as a new species, S. petrophilus. This view was supported by SACC.
Phylogenetic evidence suggests that undescribed taxa from the genus Scytalopus
Scytalopus
Scytalopus is a genus of small passerine birds belonging to the tapaculo group. They are found in South and Central America from Tierra del Fuego to Costa Rica, but are absent from the Amazon Basin. They inhabit dense vegetation at or near ground-level and are mainly found in mountainous regions,...
remain in eastern Brazil.
English name
Regardless of the correct scientific name, the English names Mouse-coloured Tapaculo and Serra do Mar Tapaculo have both been used for the relatively dark species of the Serra do Mar region, but neither is perfect: Most tapaculos of the genus Scytalopus are largely mouseMouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
-grey in colour, and what was included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo until 2005 is very different from what would be included in the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo today. Additionally, the relatively pale species
Rock Tapaculo
The Rock Tapaculo or Espinhaço Tapaculo is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family. It is endemic to altitudes of in the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains, and the Mantiqueira Mountains in Minas Gerais, Brazil, though it may also occur in adjacent parts of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo...
of the central and southern Espinhaço Mountains has been called the Mouse-coloured Tapaculo (used briefly by Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos, but not anymore), which could add additional confusion. The name Serra do Mar Tapaculo for the species of the Serra do Mar region is also potentially misleading, as it is not entirely restricted to this mountain range, but also occurs far inland in Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
and Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
.
External links
- Serra do Mar Tapaculo, photos and text. Arthurgrosset.com