1. Taxonomy

2. Description

3. Ecology and behaviour

4. Distribution and habitat

5. Threats and protection

6. References
    Bibliography 

The Perijá tapaculo (Scytalopus perijanus) is a species of passerine bird in the family Rhinocryptidae (tapaculos). Endemic to the Serranía del Perijá mountain range on the Colombia–Venezuela border, the Perijá tapaculo is found at altitudes of {{convert|1600|-|3225|m|abbr=off|-2}}. It measures {{convert|10|to|12|cm|abbr=off}}, and its tail is around {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}} long. Specimens have long been stored in museums, but the species was only described in 2015 based on sixteen specimens found between July 2008 and February 2009. It is considered vulnerable.

Adults have neutral grey heads, brown necks, brown-sepia striped backs, and grey-white bellies, breasts, and throats. Males have some buff markings on their breasts, and less sharp brown spots on their napes than females. The Perijá tapaculo is a secretive bird and therefore difficult to observe; as a result its ecology is poorly known. It feeds on insects and reproduces between April and July. Its range is partially within Chamicero de Perijá Bird Reserve in Colombia and the Sierra de Perijá National Park in Venezuela.

Taxonomy

Between 1941 and 1942, American ornithologist Melbourne Armstrong Carriker collected 27 specimens of the Perijá tapaculo in six locations on the western side of the Serranía del Perijá. He identified them as specimens of the northern white-crowned tapaculo (S. atratus), despite size and colour differences, and sent them to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} In 1953, the specimens began to attract the attention of biologists, and were successively identified as the brown-rumped tapaculo (S. latebricola), the Caracas tapaculo (S. caracae), and the Mérida tapaculo (S. meridanus).{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} Some further believed that the specimens could belong to an undescribed species, or constitute a subspecies of the pale-bellied tapaculo (S. griseicollis) or the Mérida tapaculo based on morphological studies,{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} but they were never classified as any of these.^[3]

In September 2006, biologists Juan Pablo López and Alexander Cortés Diago found two specimens in a cloud forest at an altitude of {{convert|2450|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}} on the western side of the Serranía del Perijá in Colombia, but the information collected was insufficient to identify a new species.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} Between July 2008 and February 2009, sixteen new specimens were collected in an area previously explored by Carriker. New vocal, morphological, genetic, and ecological studies of these specimens confirmed that they constituted a new species, Scytalopus perijanus,{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} first described by Jorge Enrique Avendaño et al. on 11 March 2015{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|pp=450–451}} following a three-year expedition,^[4] and accepted by the South American Classification Committee.^[5] The Latin word perijanus refers to the Serranía del Perijá mountain range,{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=455}} and the genus name Scytalopus comes from the Greek skutale (stick) and pous (foot).^[6]

The type specimen of the Perijá tapaculo, an adult male, was found in the Serranía del Perijá near the El Cinco vereda of Manaure, Cesar Department, Colombia, at an altitude of {{convert|2450|m|abbr=on|-2}}.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} Jorge Enrique Avendaño lured the specimen by playing a recording of its song on 10 July 2008 at the edge of a montane forest.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial gene ND2 from the Perijá tapaculo showed that its nearest relatives are the brown-rumped tapaculo, Caracas tapaculo, and Mérida tapaculo.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|pp=456–457}}

Description

The Perijá tapaculo is a small bird, {{convert|10|to|12|cm|abbr=on}} in length with an average mass of 17 to 18 grams (around 0.6 oz).{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} The bill averages {{convert|6.8|mm|abbr=off}} long, {{convert|2.9|mm|abbr=on}} wide, and {{convert|3.5|mm|abbr=on}} high.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} The legs are about {{convert|21|mm|abbr=on}} long. The Perijá tapaculo's tarsus averages {{convert|21.1|mm}} long.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} The wings measure {{convert|57.4|mm|abbr=on}} on average and the tail is about {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}} long{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} with between 8 and 12 rectrices.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=456}}

The forehead, lores, crown, mantle, and scapular area are a neutral grey colour. There is a brown spot on the nape. The top of the tail is brown, and the bottom is faintly striped brown. The bird's back and rump are striped brown-sepia, and the throat, breast, and belly are grey-white. Its lower belly and flanks are tawny.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} The iris is dark brown. Male specimens are distinguished by having less sharp brown spots on their napes, and the bottom of their breasts are mixed with a pale buff colour. The legs are brown on the back and whitish on the front. Young birds have a yellowish appearance with striped brown flanks.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}}

The bird's plumage colouration is most similar to the pale-bellied tapaculo.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} The S. g. morenoi subspecies of the pale-bellied tapaculo can be differentiated from the Perijá tapaculo by its entirely brown back and nape, and its different calls. Juveniles of this subspecies have a dull ventral plumage, while the Perijá tapaculo has a more yellow plumage.{{sfn|Avendaño|Donegan|2015|p=139}} It also resembles the Caracas tapaculo but has a duller ventral colour.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}}

Ecology and behaviour

Like other species in genus Scytalopus, the Perijá tapaculo is secretive and therefore difficult to observe.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}} The call and song differ from those of most other species in the genus, and the latter is composed of two short churrs repeating up to 65 times at 0.5 to 3 second intervals.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=452}} The diet of the species is little known, but studies of the stomach contents of seven specimens suggested that they fed exclusively on insects.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}}

Little is known about the reproduction of the species, but it is believed to nest between April and July.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}} The species builds its globular nests in underground cavities about {{convert|12|cm|abbr=on}} in diameter and around {{convert|14.5|cm|abbr=on}} in height, lined with mosses, grasses, and plant roots around a central space about {{convert|9|cm|abbr=on}} wide. The nests are accessed by a short tunnel with a depth of {{convert|10|cm|abbr=on}} and a diameter of {{convert|4.2|cm|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}} Young birds may leave the nest at the end of June. Like those of other Scytalopus species, male specimens have demonstrated involvement in parenting.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}}

Distribution and habitat

The Perijá tapaculo is endemic to the Serranía del Perijá,{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=451}} a mountain range on the Colombia–Venezuela border known for its high rates of endemism.^[7][8] It has been observed in nineteen localities on both sides of the border between altitudes of {{convert|1600|and|3225|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}} above sea level; in its northern range, there are no suitable forests below {{convert|1600|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}}.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|pp=458–459}} The bird has been observed at {{convert|1800|-|3120|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}} on the Venezuelan side, and at 1,600{{Endash}}3,225 m on the Colombian side.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|pp=458–459}}

The Perijá tapaculo lives in and on the edges of humid rainforests, as well as in elfin forests and amongst woody páramo shrubs in high-mountain grassland areas, especially at altitudes of {{convert|2500|-|3000|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}}.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}} Some specimens have been observed feeding in dense thickets within {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} of the ground, often near the forest. Others have been observed running through open grassy areas between bushes.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=460}}

The species has not been identified as being sympatric with any other species of the genus Scytalopus.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|pp=458–459}} However, there is a possibility that its range overlaps with that of the S. atratus nigricans, which occupies a different micro-habitat on the eastern side of the Serranía del Perijá at altitudes of {{convert|1500|-|1900|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}}; or that it may be found within the range of the pale-bellied tapaculo in the lower reaches of the Serranía de Los Motilones mountain range, south of the Serranía del Perijá.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|pp=458–459}}

Threats and protection

Jorge Enrique Avendaño et al. wrote in the original description of the Perijá tapaculo that the size and quality of the species' range are being reduced, although it can tolerate a certain level of fragmentation of its range. Its natural habitat covers about {{convert|5000|sqkm|sqmi}}.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=462}} The description entails the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification of this species as vulnerable.^[1] The authors believe that to protect the Perijá tapaculo, conservation measures on the Colombian side of the border should reflect those on the Venezuelan side, as the forests of the Serranía del Perijá have been largely destroyed on the Colombian side by logging activities and forest clearance for agriculture.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=462}}

On 28 January 2014, prior to the formal description of the bird, the Chamicero de Perijá Bird Reserve was created by Fundación ProAves to maintain one of Colombia's most fragile habitats.^[9] In addition to the Perijá tapaculo, several other Perijá-endemic endangered species, such as the Perijá metaltail (Metallura iracunda) and Perijá thistletail (Asthenes perijana) are protected within this reserve's {{convert|749|ha}}.^[10] The Colombian section of the Serranía del Perijá is dangerous for scientific excursions due to the presence of the FARC guerrilla group in the region.^[7] In Venezuela, the Sierra de Perijá National Park covers {{convert|300000|ha}} and partially protects the habitat of the Perijá tapaculo.{{sfn|Avendaño et al.|2015|p=462}}

References

Bibliography

• {{cite journal|url=http://www.museum.lsu.edu/cuervo/pubs_files/Scytalopus.perijanus_Auk.2015.pdf|first1=Jorge Enrique|last1=Avendaño|first2=Andrés M.|last2=Cuervo|first3=Juan Pablo|last3=López|first4=Natalia Gutiérrez|last4=Pinto|first5=Alexander Cortés|last5=Diago|first6=Carlos Daniel|last6=Cadena|title=A new species of tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae: Scytalopus) from the Serranía de Perijá of Colombia and Venezuela|journal= The Auk|volume=132|issue=2|doi=10.1642/AUK-14-166.1|year=2015|pages=450–466|ref={{sfnRef|Avendaño et al.|2015}}}} {{open access}}
• {{cite journal|title= A distinctive new subspecies of Scytalopus griseicollis (Aves, Passeriformes, Rhinocryptidae) from the northern Eastern Cordillera of Colombia and Venezuela|journal= ZooKeys|volume= 506|issue= 506|last1=Avendaño|first1=Jorge Enrique|last2=Donegan|first2=Thomas M.|year=2015|pages=137–153|pmc=4467187|doi=10.3897/zookeys.506.9553|ref=harv|pmid=26085800}} {{open access}}

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