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Nothoprocta

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Nothoprocta
Brushland tinamou (N. cinerascens)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Infraclass: Palaeognathae
Order: Tinamiformes
Family: Tinamidae
Subfamily: Nothurinae
Genus: Nothoprocta
Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1873
Type species
Crypturus perdicarius[1]
von Kittlitz, 1830
Species

Nothoprocta taczanowskii
Taczanowski's tinamou
Nothoprocta ornata
Ornate tinamou
Nothoprocta perdicaria
Chilean tinamou
Nothoprocta cinerascens
Brushland tinamou
Nothoprocta pentlandii
Andean tinamou
Nothoprocta curvirostris
Curve-billed tinamou

Nothoprocta is a genus of birds belonging to the tinamou family Tinamidae. They inhabit scrubland, grassland and open woodland in western South America, particularly in the Andes. They are poor fliers and spend most of their time on the ground. Their diet includes seeds and insects. They nest on the ground, laying large glossy eggs. The eggs are covered with feathers when a potential predator is nearby.

They are medium-sized tinamous, 26 to 36 cm (10–14 in) long. They have strong legs and fairly long, downcurved bills. The plumage is mostly grey-brown with intricate black, white and buff markings. The birds have loud, whistling calls.

Species list

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There are at least six species in the genus. A seventh species, Kalinowski's tinamou, Nothoprocta kalinowskii, is sometimes recognized but is more likely to be a junior synonym of Nothoprocta ornata branickii, a subspecies of the ornate tinamou.[2] The SACC voted to demote the Kalinowski's Tinamou, on 14 Feb 2007.[3]

Etymology

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Nothoprocta comes from two Ancient Greek words: nothos meaning 'spurious, counterfeit', and prōktos 'anus'. This combination of words probably has to do with the tail being small and covered with body feathers, therefore looking fake.[5]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Tinamidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  2. ^ Krabbe, N. (2005)
  3. ^ Remsen Jr. J. V. (2006)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Clements, J. (2007)
  5. ^ Gotch, A. F. (1995)

References

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