Proposals for the taxonomic treatment of Red-legged Tinamou Crypturellus erythropus
209. Split Crypturellus
columbianus from C. erythropus
210. Split Crypturellus idoneus from C. erythropus
211. Split Crypturellus saltuarius from C. erythropus
Background:
This set of proposals is made with a view to providing an SACC
view for conservation decision-makers and others on a taxonomically
complicated and controversial group. The three taxa Crypturellus
(erythropus) columbianus, C. (e.) idoneus and C.
(e.) saltuarius, particularly the first and third, have often
been regarded as separate species. Two of them, C. (e.) columbianus
and C. (e.) saltuarius, are currently classified as threatened
species in many assessments. BirdLife International recently sought
views from myself and others on whether to adopt the current SACC
treatment for this group (which would result in these species
being lumped) because the current SACC baseline treatment differs
from that which they currently follow and because two of the taxa
are threatened. As the matter has not been considered by the SACC,
I suggested that it would be prudent to raise a series of SACC
proposals dealing with these issues in advance of BirdLife changing
its treatment. BirdLife will delay taking a decision on this issue
pending outcome of this series of SACC proposals and will likely
adopt the SACC consensus. I have also included here a proposal
for C. (e.) idoneus here which, although not treated as
separate by BirdLife International, has been treated as a separate
species by some authors.
Recent taxonomic treatments:
The taxonomy of the red-legged medium-sized Crypturellus
has been controversial for decades. Per the current SACC baseline
comment, "species limits in this complex are poorly understood
and weakly justified, and a thorough study, especially of voice,
is badly needed" and "species-level taxonomy and allocation
of subspecies to species has been exceptionally labile, perhaps
more so than any other species complex in the New World".
Red-legged Tinamou C. erythropus is a widespread species
of the lowlands of South America, found in forest and in some
disturbed habitats. The races C. e. cursitans, C. e.
margaritae and C. e. spencei, all of lowlands east
or north of the Andes, have consistently been treated as being
conspecific with the nominate form. However, three other taxa
currently regarded as part of C. erythropus in the SACC
baseline have often been regarded as separate species by many
authors:
1. Colombian Tinamou C. (e.) columbianus, of the Nechí
lowlands of Colombia. Treated as separate by: e.g. Hellmayr &
Conover 1942; Meyer de Schauensee, 1964 (within C. noctivagus
but not C. erythropus) & 1970; Stotz et al.,
1998; BirdLife International 2000; Salaman et al., 2001;
Renjifo et al., 2002; Donegan et al., 2003; BirdLife
International 2004)
.
2. Santa Marta Tinamou C. (e.) idoneus of the foothills
of the Santa Marta mountains of Colombia and northern Perijá
mountains of Colombia and Venezuela. Treated as separate by: e.g.
Meyer de Schauensee 1970; Salaman et al., 2001; Donegan
et al., 2003.
3. Magdalena Tinamou C. (e.) saltuarius of the Magdalena
valley in Colombia (historically, western Perijá mountain
foothills and possibly, lowlands of Serranía de San Lucas
and other sites in Colombia's Magdalena valley). Treated as separate
by: e.g. Hellmayr & Conover 1942; Meyer de Schauensee, 1964
& 1970; Stotz et al., 1998; BirdLife International
2000, Salaman et al., 2001; Renjifo et al., 2002;
Donegan et al., 2003; BirdLife International 2004.
Other authors (e.g. Hilty & Brown, 1986; Dunning, 1987; Schwarz
& Lentino, 1984; Sibley & Monroe 1990; Cabot, 1992; Davies
2002; Bertelli et al., 2002; Hilty, 2003; Bertelli & Porzecanski
2004), tentatively lump all or some of these forms, though again
almost always with comment.
Although sufficient taxonomic chaos could be considered to exist
among these three taxa, the entire red-legged medium-sized Crypturellus
group is a very difficult one and has been subject to multiple
different treatments. Plagiarising the SACC baseline comment for
this group (with some small editions): within subspecies included
in the SACC baseline within C. erythropus, Meyer de Schauensee
(1966) suggested that C. e. cursitans was actually a subspecies
of C. duidae. Blake (1977) suggested that C. (e.) columbianus
was possibly a distinct species (as treated by Hellmayr &
Conover 1942) or "perhaps a very distinct Colombian isolate
of ... C. boucardi." Meyer de Schauensee (1964 and
1970) considered C. (e.) saltuarius as a distinct
species, and Blake (1977) suggested that saltuarius might
be a subspecies of C. kerriae (but that kerriae
might also be a subspecies of Middle American C. boucardi).
The subspecies idoneus and spencei were treated
as subspecies of Middle American C. cinnamomeus in early
Peters. Thus, Sibley & Monroe (1990) noted that the taxa C.
(e.) columbianus, C. (e.) idoneus, and C. (e.) saltuarius,
treated here as subspecies of C. erythropus, may deserve
species rank or may belong in other species, an approach adopted
by Stotz et al. (1998) among others. The taxon C. atrocapillus
garleppi, here treated as a subspecies of C. atrocapillus
(following Blake 1977, 1979) was formerly considered a subspecies
of C. noctivagus (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1942, Peters)
and perhaps merits species rank (Cabot 1992). Sibley & Monroe
(1990) considered C. kerriae and C. erythropus,
along with Middle American C. boucardi, to form one superspecies,
and C. duidae, C. noctivagus, and C. atrocapillus
to form a separate superspecies. Bertelli et al.'s (2002)
analysis of phenotypic characters indicated that C. boucardi
and C. kerriae are sister species, but otherwise found
little support for the monophyly of this complex.
No strong opinions have been voiced in any of the above publications
as to the treatment of this group, other than as to the fact that
more research is needed and that the problem is a complex and
difficult one. Those that lump the taxa typically comment that
the four taxa in question may well be separate species; those
that split them typically comment that they may well be well-marked
races of the same species. There is essentially no force of precedent
for the taxonomic treatment (split vs. lump) for these taxa (save
for the lumping of C. (e.) idoneus in C. erythropus).
Morphological data
The four taxa in question vary somewhat in plumage, principally
head and underpart coloration, with C. (e.) columbianus
showing additional differences. Most C. erythropus subspecies
show a dusky or greyish crown, barred underparts and upperparts,
a dark crown with lighter throat and a yellowish breast and belly.
All have reddish legs. All are of a similar size, being considerably
larger than Little Tinamou C. soui taxa with which this
group is sympatric across much of its range. For reference, C.
e. erythropus is illustrated in Hilty (2003)'s Birds of
Venezuela. A plate of C. (e.) margaritae, which is
probably the most morphologically distinctive of the core C.
erythropus taxa, is available on the following link: http://www.geocities.com/faunavenezuela/macagua.htm
C. (e.) columbianus is probably the most morphologically
distinctive of the taxa subject to this set of proposals. It has
a rather different (darker) back coloration from the other forms
and much reduced barring on the upperparts and underparts (Meyer
de Schauensee 1964; Hilty & Brown, 1986; BirdLife International
2000, 2004). It has indeed been considered perhaps to be more
closely related to Chocó Tinamou C. kerriae (Blake,
1977), C. noctivagus (Meyer de Schauensee, 1964) or C.
boucardi (e.g. Hellmayr & Conover 1942) than to C.
erythropus due to the lack of similarity between this form
and C. erythropus taxa.
C. (e.) idoneus has a greyish brown crown but otherwise
differs very little in plumage from C. (e.) spencei and
C. (e.) cursitans. Indeed, among the Venezuelan forms,
variation within some subspecies has been considered to be often
as great as intrasubspecific variation (Hilty, 2003). Among the
three taxa, this has most often been lumped with C. erythropus
(Meyer de Schaunsee 1964; Hilty & Brown, 1986; Schwarz &
Lentino, 1984, Hilty, 2003) including by some authors who split
the other two (e.g. Meyer de Schaunsee, 1964; BirdLife International
2000; BirdLife International 2004).
The only C. (e.) saltuarius skin shows has a lighter belly
than other forms, more greyish wash on the breast and darker crown
(Wetmore, 1950; Meyer de Schaunsee 1964; Hilty & Brown, 1986;
Cabot, 1992; BirdLife International 2000 & 2004). A plate
of C. (e.) saltuarius is available online at the following
link: http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32&m=0
Vocal data
The voices of C. erythropus in Venezuela have been subject
to some study (Schwartz & Lentino, 1984). The calls are trisyllabic
whistles, described variously as "whooo hooo-a", "soy
sola", "whuu, whuu-whu?" (e.g. Schwartz & Lentino,
1984; Hilty, 2003). The voice of what is apparently C. saltuarius
is also reported by local people to be a trisyllabic whistle "soy
sola" (Donegan et al., 2003). The voices of C.
(e.) idoneus is also a trisyllabic "whooo hooo-a"
or "si-u-ri", similar to those of the other forms (Schwarz
& Lentino 1984; Donegan et al., 2003). Other medium
sized red-legged Crypturellus taxa currently treated as
separate species also give calls consisting of trisyllabic whistles
(e.g. Central American C. cinnamomeus and C. boucardi,
per Howell & Webb, 1995). The little data that exists therefore
suggests that at least C. (e.) idoneus and C. (e.) saltuarius
have broadly similar vocalisations to C. erythropus taxa.
Given the widespread use of trisyllabic whistles within this complex,
one would be surprised were C. (e.) columbianus not also
to have a similarly structured call. Clearly, transcriptions of
trisyllabic whistles are somewhat removed from detailed sonogram
analysis. Further, as other red-legged medium sized Crypturellus
currently regarded as separate species on the SACC baseline share
trisyllabic whistles, basing taxonomic decisions purely on (poorly
understood) vocal characters could be criticised as being inconsistent.
However, it is clear that no vocal data yet exists that would
support strongly any split.
Molecular and morphological phylogenies
Bertelli et al. (1992)'s and Bertelli & Porzecanski
(2004)'s recently published phylogenies (the latter using morphological
and molecular data) include only C. e. erythropus and no
C. (e.) saltuarius or C. (e.) columbianus data.
However, unpublished analyses of morphological data using Bertelli
et al. (1992)'s characters do not suggest paraphyly of
a greater C. erythropus (S. Bertelli in litt.).
Is C. (e.) saltuarius a "dubious taxon"?
C. (e.) saltuarius is known from just one specimen, an immature
bird. Its voice and adult plumage are not known. C. erythropus
taxa show considerable individual variation (Hilty, 2003) some
of which may be age-related (pers. comm.). The single C. (e.)
saltuarius skin is therefore hardly substantial evidence for
the existence of a taxon, be it a species or subspecies. The difference
in morphology of a single skin is hardly strong evidence of reproductive
isolation of the form. Recent work at the type locality revealed
high levels of deforestation and very few recent reports of the
taxon among local people (Donegan et al., 2003). C.
erythropus spencei and C. (e.) idoneus are present
on the eastern slope of the Perijá mountain range where
C. (e.) saltuarius is said to have existed. The Andean
ridgeline in this region is at its lowest (c. 1500m) and narrowest
north of the Equator in this region. The fact that only one immature
skin exists, this from a poorly known region but where other similar
taxa exist close by, may mean that "dubious taxon" status
would be a better treatment for C. (e.) saltuarius. However,
various studies have consistently asserted the distinctiveness
of the type specimen from these other forms (e.g. Wetmore 1950;
Meyer de Schauensee 1964 & 1970; Blake 1977).
Some evidence for the existence of a medium-sized red-legged Crypturellus
in the Magdalena Valley was recently presented by Mantilla &
Díaz (1992), citing written accounts of Fray Diego García
on "Expedición Botanica" in the 1600s which would
match an adult C. (e.) saltuarius. Further, recent lay
reports of medium-sized red-legged tinamous exist from the foothills
of Serranía de San Lucas (Donegan et al., 2003),
provide additional evidence that there is or was a "magdalena
tinamou" of some description in the C. erythropus
group. However, discussion of C. (e.) erythropus still
lies somewhere on the boundary between ornithology and cryptozoology.
It is even feasible that the Expedición Botanica records
and San Lucas reports could refer instead to C. (e.) columbianus
(Donegan et al., 2003), particularly given the propensity
for Nechí / Chocó birds to extend in range into
the humid part of the Magdalena valley (e.g. Stiles et al.
1999). The San Lucas region of Colombia is presently a highly
dangerous region in which to conduct fieldwork - the participants
on the only recent expedition to the region were detained for
two weeks and could only survey secondary habitats in which no
red-legged Crypturellus were found (Salaman et al.,
2002). If the split of this taxon is sanctioned, I will raise
a separate proposal dealing with the issue of whether to treat
C. (e.) saltuarius as a "dubious taxon" so that
this issue can be taken off the table in the discussions as to
whether it and others should be treated as separate from C.
erythropus. However, I would suggest that the case for C.
(e.) saltuarius not being a "dubious taxon" is arguably
less bad than the case for, e.g. Heliangelus zusii, which
remains on the main list following a proposal for its removal.
C. (e.) saltuarius
is treated as a species by BirdLife International (2000, 2004)
(following Stotz et al. 1996), who classify it as Critically
Endangered with a population of probably less than 50 individuals.
It has previously been regarded as possibly extinct (Collar et
al., 1992). C. (e.) columbianus is regarded as Endangered,
restricted to the largely deforested Nechí region. No recent
records of this taxon exist (BirdLife International 2004). The
global importance of the type locality for C. (e.) saltuarius
has been stressed in multiple conservation priority setting initiatives
(Stattersfield et al., 1997; BirdLife International 2000 &
2004; Renjifo et al., 2002; Alvarez, 2002). A greater (or
lesser) C. erythropus would be non-threatened (Least Concern).
Conclusions:
These proposals are difficult ones due to the lack of hard data.
An interim decision on this issue (rather than a "let's wait
and see" approach) is necessary for conservation priority
setters due to the political instability in regions from where
C. (e.) saltuarius and C. (e.) columbianus are found
which shows no sign of abating in the near future and which deters
fieldwork (see e.g. Alvarez, 2002; Salaman et al., 2001;
Donegan et al., 2003).
Morphology of some of these forms (particularly C. (e.) columbianus)
is rather distinct from that of the nominate C. erythropus
group. However, the very little and tentative vocal data points
to conspecific treatment perhaps being the more conservative approach.
Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui includes a number of morphologically
distinctive forms with a similar voice and is currently treated
as one species. The plumage differences here for C. (e.) columbianus
in particular are greater than those among many C. soui
races, at least to the human eye. Whatever the evidence one way
or the other, a further question is whether the SACC baseline
truly reflects the 'status quo' in modern ornithology, given the
large number of recent publications that treat particularly C.
(e.) saltuarius and C. (e.) columbianus as separate
species (if we restrict the widely followed findings of Schwartz
& Lentino to C. idoneus). If a split treatment is regarded
as the status quo, the tables are somewhat reversed and the question
rather becomes whether evidence exists to effect a lump.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Stuart Butchart, Rob Clay and
Sara Bertelli for comments on this proposal. The suggestions here
are those of the author and not necessarily those of BirdLife
International or any of the other persons mentioned.
Proposal 209: Split C. columbianus from
C. erythropus. C. (e.) columbianus is morphologically
more different from C. erythropus than either C. (e.)
saltuarius or C. (e.) idoneus and has been considered
more closely related to each of C. kerriae, C. boucardi
and C. noctivagus than C. erythropus in the past.
C. (e.) columbianus, of all these three, probably has the
best case for treatment as a separate species. The plumage differences
between this taxon and others in the group, particularly C.
(e.) columbianus' lack of underpart and upperpart barring
and its darker plumage, are significant, broadly similar to that
between other red-legged Crypturellus taxa treated as separate
species, for example in Central America. Though the evidence and
justification presented here are admittedly poorly supported and
the relations between these forms are poorly understood, I would
personally be more inclined towards a "YES" vote to
split this taxon than the converse.
Proposal 210: Split C. idoneus from C.
erythropus. Vocal and morphological data point to C.
idoneus not being distantly related from C. erythropus
taxa. This split has much less force of precedent than the other
two and recent studies suggest conspecific treatment is preferable.
This is therefore probably the easiest proposal of the three.
I would recommend a "NO" vote for this proposal, i.e.
not to sanction the split.
Proposal 211: Split C. saltuarius from C.
erythropus. The little that we know of C. (e.) saltuarius
suggests that it differs in more than just crown colour (cf. C.
(e.) idoneus) from C. erythropus populations. However,
such differences remain relatively small in the context of a very
variable group. Indeed, C. (e.) margaritae presents comparable
levels of dissimilarity to the other taxa as C. (e.) saltuarius,
but is almost always treated as conspecific with C. erythropus.
The plumage of just one immature skin is hardly a great deal of
evidence on which to base a split evidenced on morphological considerations
and tentative vocal data points to this form having a similar
call to C. erythropus taxa. I would probably be inclined
more towards a "NO" vote for the recognition of this
controversial taxon as a species than the converse, though would
not wish to discourage further research into the taxonomy and
status of this taxon.
References (not including major reference works on SACC reference
list):
Álvarez, M. D. (2002) Illicit crops and bird conservation
priorities in Colombia. Conservation Biology 16(4): 1086-1096.
Bertelli S. & Porzecanski A.L. 2004. Tinamou (Tinamidae) systematics:
a preliminary combined analysis of morphology and molecules. Ornitologia
Neotropical (Suppl.) 2004. (available at http://www.arches.uga.edu/~perdiz/pdf/bertelli_&_porzecanski_2004.pdf)
Bertelli S., Giannini, N.P. & Goloboff, P.A. 2002. A phylogeny
of the tinamous (Aves: Palaeognathiformes) based on integumentary
characters. Syst. Biol. 51:959-979.
Donegan TM, Huertas BC & Briceño, ER. 2003. Status
of the Magdalena Tinamou Crypturellus saltuarius in the
type locality and surrounding lower Magdalena Valley. Cotinga
19 (2003): 34-39.
Mantilla R., L. C. & Díaz, P. S. (1992) Fray Diego
García, su vida y su obra científica en la Expedición
Botánica. Rev. Acad. Colombiana Cienc. Nat. Físicas
y Nat. 7: 242-243.
Renjifo, L. M., Franco Maya, A. M., Amaya-Espinel, J. D., Kattan,
G. H. & López-Lanus, B. (eds.) (2002) Libro rojo
de aves de Colombia. Serie Libros Rojos de Especies Amenazadas
de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación
de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt & Ministerio
de Medio Ambiente.
Salaman, P. G. W., Cuadros, T., Jaramillo, J. G. & Weber,
W. H. 2001. Checklist of the birds of Colombia. Medellín:
Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología.
Salaman P.G.W., Donegan T.M. & Cuervo A.M. 2002. New distributional
bird records from Serranía de San Lucas and adjacent Central
Cordillera of Colombia. Bull BOC 122(4): 285-304.
Schwartz P & Lentino M. 1984. Relaciones de los tinamidos
Venezolanos del grupo Crypturellus noctivagus indicados
por su voz (Aves: Tinamidae). Serie Informes Científicos
DGSIIA/IC/23, Ministerio del Ambiente y de Recursos Naturales
Renovables, Caracas, Venezuela.
Stiles, F G, Rosselli, L & Bohórquez, C I. 1999. New
and noteworthy records of birds from the middle Magdalena valley
of Colombia. Bull Brit. Onith. Club 119: 113-128.
Wetmore A. 1950. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 63 at p.171.
Thomas Donegan, March 2006
==============================================================================
Comments from Stiles: "On this group of proposals I shall vote
NO. I feel that the forms columbianus, idoneus and saltuarius
are best left as forms of erythropus until
solid new data (ideally, genetic and vocal) clearly favors their
being split. Although I have met none of these forms in life,
I did examine series of skins of the first two and a set of photos
of the type of the latter while in the US several years ago. My
conclusions from this study were that all of the forms share a
similar overall pattern and similar sexual dimorphism (the lone
specimen of saltuarius being an immature male), differing
mainly in intensity of coloration (which seems to follow Gloger`s
rule: columbianus, from a wet area, is darker and more
richly colored, with less contrasting black barring, than the
pale, greyish idoneus with more contrasting black barring,
from the dry-forested lowlands around the Santa Marta range of
N Colombia). (Momotus motmots show a similar pattern of
variation in N Colombia). Blake (1977) mentioned that Carriker`s
data on the Mallophaga of these birds also indicates close relationship.
A further consideration is that the race spencei, of the
wet Paria peninsula of Venezuela, is also darker than adjacent
erythropus and in fact, bears a considerable resemblance
to columbianus. If one lumps spencei into erythropus,
I can see little justification for keeping columbianus
separate. (Hilty (2003) states that individual variation in the
Venezuelan races is a great as the differences between them; while
at least idoneus and columbianus are quite distinct,
the one specimen of saltuarius is closer to idoneus
but somewhat darker (again in accordance with Gloger`s rule);
only more specimens of this form will confirm its distinctness.
Donegan is correct in noting that a description of what is presumably
the adult male was made by Fray Diego García in 1793, but
the difference in vocabulary, anatomical and color terms make
comparisons difficult (for example, the generic term for brown
in those days was "tabaco" - but did it refer to simply
the dried leaves, cured leaves or smoked leaves?). Be this as
it may, saltuarius is clearly a representative of the erythropus
group. The differences in intensity and contrast of the dark barring
is also not wholly convincing as basis for a split: for example,
the change in C. undulatus from a strongly barred, contrasty
bird in E Perú to a very weakly patterned one in E Colombia
is at least as striking. Color differences as great or greater
occur among the races of C. soui. In sum, the evidence
from color and pattern of specimens does not seem to me sufficient
to justify splitting these forms. Good recordings of columbianus,
idoneus and saltuarius either do not exist or have
never been analyzed.
Donegan`s final argument is that the three forms in question are
all endangered to a greater or lesser degree, and according them
species rank will facilitate obtaining funding for studying them.
I sympathize with this argument, but disagree that conservation
considerations should drive taxonomic decisions: this is putting
the cart before the horse. One solution that we have been trying
to implement in Colombia (as in the designation of IBAs) is to
consider certain forms as "genetically significant populations"
- specifically, distinctive subspecies which on present evidence
are not species, but from their degrees of phenotypic distinctiveness
probably include a significant degree of genetic variation with
respect to the rest of the species - and these three tinamous
are so considered. The challenge, of course, is convincing funding
agencies that such populations are worth studying and saving.
Additional comments from Thomas Donegan: "Gary
and I seem in agreement on two of the three proposals (lump
C. e. saltuarius and C. e. idoneus with C. erythropus).
I find the comparison with C. e. spencei convincing
that the lump (and not the split) version of the status quo may
also be better for C. e. columbianus. This does raise
questions as to whether some other taxa in this group currently
treated as separate species may not also be Gloger's rule variations
on a theme, but this is not the subject of these proposals.
"In relation to Gary's other comments, could I please emphasise
that the proposal does not suggest that a conservation cart should
ever be put before a taxonomic horse. For clarity (if this was
lacking?), comments on conservation status in the proposal are
(i) to provide evidence of the status quo in ornithological publications
(of which ornithological conservation publications form part)
and (ii) to provide some context for the SACC as to the wider
ramifications of the proposal and the reasons behind raising it.
Although much criticised (including by me, in print), the wide
use of only (BSC) species data in conservation assessments cannot
be denied."
Comments from Robbins: "NO. Until there is a detailed analysis of vocalizations and genetic data I see no reason why any of the proposed splits in 209-211 should be made."
Comments from Silva: "NO. No change without any good data."
Comments from Nores (209): "NO. Aunque la propuesta hecha por Donegan me pareció bien fundamentada y estuve a punto de votar por SI, el comentario de Stiles me hizo cambiar de idea. Este es un caso que casi correspondería emitir un "blank vote", pero dejemos eso para la elección de políticos."
Comments from Nores (210): "NO. Pienso que Donegan ha fundamentado bien que esta propuesta no es factible, y más si uno vota por NO en la propuesta anterior."
Comments from Nores (211): "NO. Con los mismos comentarios que para la propuesta anterior, con el agregado de que existiendo solamente un ejemplar no parece apropiado hacer demasiadas conjeturas y más en este grupo donde las especies son tan parecidas y variables."
Comments from Zimmer: "NO. Gary nicely summarizes several reasons for not making a change here, and, as reiterated by virtually everyone, the absence of any formal analysis or new data leaves us with no compelling reason for making the change."
Comments from Jaramillo: "NO - This is a complicated issue but I think that vocal (or molecular) data is needed to steer this situation to a firmer decision than we can at this point. The issue of Gloger's rule is very important given that these are ground dwelling, and ground nesting creatures. It is precisely in these species where color matching to substrate is expected, and the cryptic coloration that tinamous tend to have clarifies that this is no insignificant point."
Comments from Pacheco: "NO. Diante dos dados expostos e a espera de novos dados, voto com a maioria."
Additional comments from Thomas Donegan: "Miguel Lentino recently kindly provided me with a copy of the difficult-to-obtain article that he and Paul Schwarz authored re Crypturellus vocalisations. A summary of this was provided in Hilty's Venezuela book (relied upon in the above proposal).
"The article evidences some small vocal differences between idoneus and the other erythropus taxa, which the authors conclude are better treated as not sufficient to evidence species rank. A discussion of morphological variation in the other taxa relevant to this set of proposals is also included in the Schwarz & Lentino article, with not dissimilar conclusions from the proposals above read together with Gary Stiles' comments.
"Jeff Thompson has kindly put a scan of the article on the Tinamou Research Group website: http://gallus.forestry.uga.edu/trg/pdf/SchwarzLentino1984.pdf."