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Penelope (genus)
Encyclopedia
Penelope is a bird genus in the Cracidae
family
consisting of a number of large turkey-like arboreal species
, the typical guans. The range of these species is in forests from southern Mexico
to tropical South America
. These largish birds have predominately brown plumage
and have relatively small heads in comparison with body size; they also bear a characteristic dewlap
. Body lengths are typically 65 to 95 centimeters.
Most of the genus members have a typically raucous honking call. A number of the genus members are endangered species
and at least one is critically endangered
, usually due to tropical deforestation
and hunting
. In the case of several species the estimated populations are as low as a few 1000 mature birds, spread over a considerable area. Because of the scarcity
of many of the genus members and also due to the habitat
being often in deep or high altitude forests, little is known about some of the species habits and reproduction; in fact, some species are found at altitudes up to 3350 meters. Nests are typically built of twigs in trees.
This genus seems to have originated as part of the southward expansion of guans through the Andes
and across tropical South America. Its closest relatives are probably the piping-guans, Aburria. These genera's ancestors apparently diverged some time during the Burdigalian
, 20-15 mya, but this is presently not corroborated by fossil
evidence (Pereira et al. 2002).
Cracidae
The chachalacas, guans and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae.These are species of tropical and subtropical Central and South America. One species, the Plain Chachalaca, just reaches southernmost Texas in the USA...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
consisting of a number of large turkey-like arboreal 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...
, the typical guans. The range of these species is in forests from southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to tropical South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. These largish birds have predominately brown 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...
and have relatively small heads in comparison with body size; they also bear a characteristic dewlap
Dewlap
A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. While the term is usually used in this specific context, it can also be used to include other structures occurring in the same body area with a similar aspect, such as those caused by a double...
. Body lengths are typically 65 to 95 centimeters.
Most of the genus members have a typically raucous honking call. A number of the genus members are endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
and at least one is critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
, usually due to tropical deforestation
Deforestation
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....
and hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. In the case of several species the estimated populations are as low as a few 1000 mature birds, spread over a considerable area. Because of the scarcity
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
of many of the genus members and also due to the habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
being often in deep or high altitude forests, little is known about some of the species habits and reproduction; in fact, some species are found at altitudes up to 3350 meters. Nests are typically built of twigs in trees.
This genus seems to have originated as part of the southward expansion of guans through the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
and across tropical South America. Its closest relatives are probably the piping-guans, Aburria. These genera's ancestors apparently diverged some time during the Burdigalian
Burdigalian
The Burdigalian is, in the geologic timescale, an age or stage in the early Miocene. It spans the time between 20.43 ± 0.05 Ma and 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma...
, 20-15 mya, but this is presently not corroborated by fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
evidence (Pereira et al. 2002).
Species
- White-winged GuanWhite-winged GuanThe White-winged Guan, Penelope albipennis, is a bird in the chachalaca, guan and curassow family Cracidae.This species survives in Lambayeque, Cajamarca and Piura, north-west Peru. These are large birds, 70 cm in length, and similar in general appearance to turkeys, with thin necks and small...
, Penelope albipennis - Band-tailed GuanBand-tailed GuanThe Band-tailed Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows.It is found in Colombia and Venezuela....
, Penelope argyrotis - Bearded GuanBearded GuanThe Bearded Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows.It is found in Ecuador and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Penelope barbata - Red-faced GuanRed-faced GuanThe Red-faced Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family.It is found in the border region of northern Argentina and in the southern border region of Bolivia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Penelope dabbenei - Spix's GuanSpix's GuanSpix's Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Penelope jacquacu - White-browed GuanWhite-browed GuanThe White-browed Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family. It is endemic to the Caatinga in north-eastern Brazil. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.-References:...
, Penelope jacucaca - Marail GuanMarail GuanThe Marail Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family.It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Penelope marail - Andean GuanAndean GuanThe Andean Guan, Penelope montagnii, is a gamefowl species of the family Cracidae, in which it belongs to the guan subfamily Penelopinae...
, Penelope montagnii - Dusky-legged GuanDusky-legged GuanThe Dusky-legged Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows.It is found in southernmost Brazil, northern Uruguay, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina; a narrow disjunct range is in northern Argentina extending into south-central Bolivia.Its natural...
, Penelope obscura - Chestnut-bellied GuanChestnut-bellied GuanThe Chestnut-bellied Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family.It is found only in Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Penelope ochrogaster - Baudo GuanBaudo GuanThe Baudo Guan, Penelope ortoni, is a species of bird from the family Cracidae. It is restricted to humid forests in the west Andean foothills of western Colombia and north-western Ecuador. It is highly sensitive to hunting and habitat destruction, with large sections of the Chocó already having...
, Penelope ortoni - Cauca GuanCauca GuanThe Cauca Guan, Penelope perspicax is a bird in the chachalaca, guan and curassow family Cracidae.This species occurs on the west slopes of the West and Central Andes of Colombia. These are large birds, 76 cm in length, and similar in general appearance to turkeys, with thin necks and small heads...
, Penelope perspicax - White-crested GuanWhite-crested GuanThe White-crested Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows.It is found only in regions of the southeast Amazon Basin of Brazil...
, Penelope pileata - Crested GuanCrested GuanThe Crested Guan, Penelope purpurascens, is a member of an ancient group of birds of the Cracidae family, which are related to the Australasian mound builders. It breeds in lowlands from south Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula to western Ecuador and southern Venezuela at up to 1850 m altitude.The...
, Penelope purpurascens - Rusty-margined GuanRusty-margined GuanThe Rusty-margined Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, which includes the chachalacas, guans, and curassows....
, Penelope superciliaris