Rusty Tinamou

Rusty Tinamou
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Tinamiformes
Family:	Tinamidae
Subfamily:	Tinaminae
Genus:	Crypturellus
Species:	C. brevirostris
Binomial name
Crypturellus brevirostris (Pelzeln, 1863)[2]

The Rusty Tinamou or Short-billed Tinamou, Crypturellus brevirostris, is a type of Tinamou commonly found in swamp forest in tropical regions of South America.^[3].

Taxonomy

The Rusty Tinamou is a monotypic species.^[3] All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also Ratites. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.^[4]

Etymology

Crypturellus is formed from three Latin or Greek words. kruptos meaning covered or hidden, oura meaning tail, and ellus meaning diminutive. Therefore Crypturellus means small hidden tail.^[5]

Range and habitat

It is found in tropical swamp forests and lowland forests, up to 500 m (1,600 ft) altitude.^[6] This species is native to northeastern and northwestern Brazil, French Guiana, and eastern Peru in South America^[3].

Description

The Rusty Tinamou is 27–29 cm (10.6–11.4 in) in length. Its upper parts are rufous boldly barred with black, its throat is white, its breast is bright rufous, its belly is white, and its flanks are barred black. Finally, its crown is chestnut in color with legs that are yellowish-grey.

Behavior

Like other Tinamous, the Rusty Tinamou eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes. They also eat small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as 4 different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually 2–3 weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.^[4]

Footnotes

1. ^ BirdLife International (2008)
2. ^ Brands, S. (2008)
3. ^ ^{a b c} Clements, J (2007)
4. ^ ^{a b} Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003)
5. ^ Gotch, A. F. (1195)
6. ^ BirdLife International (2008)(a)

References

• BirdLife International (2008). Crypturellus brevirostris. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 08 Feb 2009.
• BirdLife International (2008(a)). "Rusty Tinamou - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Data Zone. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=37&m=0. Retrieved 08 Feb 2009. 
• Brands, Sheila (Aug 14 2008). "Systema Naturae 2000 / Classification, Genus Crypturellus". Project: The Taxonomicon. http://www.taxonomy.nl/Main/Classification/51327.htm. Retrieved Feb 04 2009. 
• Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978 0 8014 4501 9. 
• Davies, S.J.J.F. (2003). "Tinamous". In Hutchins, Michael. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins (2 ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 57–59. ISBN 0 7876 5784 0. 
• Gotch, A. F. (1995) [1979]. "Tinamous". Latin Names Explained. A Guide to the Scientific Classifications of Reptiles, Birds & Mammals. New York, NY: Facts on File. p. 183. ISBN 0 8160 3377 3.