Proposals (209-211) to South American Classification Committee
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 underparts 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 Schauensee 1964; Hilty & Brown, 1986;
Schwarz & Lentino, 1984, Hilty, 2003) including by some authors who split
the other two (e.g. Meyer de Schauensee, 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 Schauensee 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.’s (1992) and Bertelli & Porzecanski’s
(2004) 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. Ornith. 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 Peru 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."