| Tepui antpitta | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Grallariidae |
| Genus: | Myrmothera |
| Species: | M. simplex |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrmothera simplex | |
 | |
The tepui antpitta or brown-breasted antpitta (Myrmothera simplex) is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela. [2]
The tepui antpitta was originally described in 1884 as Grallaria simplex. [3] It was later transferred to genus Myrmothera. [4] [5] At least one twentieth century author used the name "brown-breasted antpitta" for the species. [6]
The tepui antpitta has these four subspecies: [2]
The tepui antpitta is about 16 cm (6.3 in) long; four males weighed between 40.5 and 53 g (1.4 and 1.9 oz) and two females 51.8 and 53 g (1.8 and 1.9 oz). The sexes have the same plumage and the subspecies differ little from each other. Adults of the nominate subspecies M. s. simplex have a small white spot behind their eye. Most of the rest of their face is chestnut-brown with slightly paler and grayer lores. Their crown, nape, upperparts, wings, and tail are chestnut-brown. Their chin and throat are white. Their breast, sides, and flanks are olivaceous gray or gray with an olive-brown wash. The center of their belly is white and their crissum tawny-brown. Subspecies M. s. duidae has a browner breast and flanks than the nominate. M. s. guaiquinimae has a more olive breast and flanks than the nominate. M. s. pacaraimae is paler than the other three subspecies and the white of its underparts starts on its lower breast. All subspecies have a brown iris, a black bill with a pink-white base to the mandible, and medium gray legs and feet. [7] [8] [9]
The tepui antpitta has a disjunct distribution in the tepui region where southeastern and southern Venezuela, far northwestern Brazil, and far western Guyana meet. The subspecies are found thus: [7] [8] [9]
The tepui antpitta inhabits dense pre-montane rainforest and cloudforest on the slopes of tepuis, and on their summits more open stunted forest. In elevation it ranges between 600 and 2,400 m (2,000 and 7,900 ft) but is mostly found above 1,200 m (3,900 ft). [7] [8] [9]
The tepui antpitta is a year-round resident throughout its range. [8]
The tepui antpitta's diet and most aspects of its foraging behavior are unknown. It is almost entirely terrestrial, mostly foraging alone while hopping and running on the forest floor in dense mossy vegetation. [7] [8]
The one known nest of the tepui antpitta was a cup of small sticks lined with smaller sticks and rootlets and placed in a Philodendron linnaei . It held two eggs that both adults were incubating. The incubation period, time to fledging, and other details of parental care are not known. [7]
The tepui antpitta's song is "6-7 (occasionally more) low-pitched, deliberately paced, hollow notes, whu-whu-whu-WU-hu-hu, 1st ones rising slightly in pitch and increasing in volume, last 2-3 on same pitch". It also "gives a low, hollow, rattle-trill". [8]
The IUCN has assessed the tepui antpitta as being of Least Concern. Its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] It is considered uncommon to fairly common and occurs in several protected areas. [7]
The rusty-breasted nunlet is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and possibly French Guiana.
The tepui foliage-gleaner, also known as the white-throated foliage-gleaner, is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela.
The short-tailed antthrush is a species of bird in the family Formicariidae. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile, French Guiana, and Uruguay.
The tepui spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.
The ochre-striped antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The yellow-breasted antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
The grey-naped antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is endemic to Venezuela.
The scaled antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
The chestnut-crowned antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The slaty-crowned antpitta or slate-crowned antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Amazonian antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
The thicket antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
The spotted antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The thrush-like antpitta is a species of bird in the antpitta family Grallariidae. It is found in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The Roraiman barbtail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.
The tepui wren is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela, where it inhabits high tablelands called tepuis.
The Roraiman antbird is a species of passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.
The tepui toucanet or Whitely's toucanet is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The copper-tailed hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is native to the tepuis of Venezuela and nearby areas of Brazil and Guyana ; it is a vagrant in French Guiana.
Snethlage's antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
