# Tapaculo > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tapaculo > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tapaculo.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapaculo > Source revision: 1357090447 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Family of birds}} {{Automatic Taxobox | name = Tapaculos | image = Turca, Alto del Naranjo 01nov14 .jpg | image_caption = [Moustached turca](/source/Moustached_turca) (''Pteroptochos megapodius'') | taxon = Rhinocryptidae | synonyms = Pteroptochidae | authority = [Wetmore](/source/Alexander_Wetmore), 1930 | subdivision_ranks = [Genera](/source/Genus) | subdivision = *''[Acropternis](/source/Acropternis)'' *''[Eleoscytalopus](/source/Eleoscytalopus)'' *''[Eugralla](/source/Eugralla)'' *''[Liosceles](/source/Liosceles)'' *''[Merulaxis](/source/Merulaxis)'' *''[Myornis](/source/Myornis)'' *''[Psilorhamphus](/source/Psilorhamphus)'' *''[Pteroptochos](/source/Pteroptochos)'' *''[Rhinocrypta](/source/Rhinocrypta)'' *''[Scelorchilus](/source/Scelorchilus)'' *''[Scytalopus](/source/Scytalopus)'' *''[Teledromas](/source/Teledromas)'' }} The '''tapaculos''' {{IPAc-en|%|t|ae|p|@|"|k|u:|l|oU|z|,_|%|t|A:|p|A:|-}} or '''tapacolos''' {{IPAc-en|-|"|k|oU|-}}{{Cite book|title=The Chambers Dictionary|publisher=Chambers|year=2003|isbn=0-550-10105-5|edition=9th|chapter=tapaculo}}{{cite Merriam-Webster|tapacolo|access-date=2022-03-25}} are a [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)), '''Rhinocryptidae''', of small [suboscine](/source/suboscine) [passerine](/source/passerine) birds, found mainly in [South America](/source/South_America) and with the highest diversity in the [Andean](/source/Andean) regions. Three species ([Chocó](/source/Choc%C3%B3_tapaculo), [Tacarcuna](/source/Tacarcuna_tapaculo), and the [silvery-fronted](/source/silvery-fronted_tapaculo)) are found in southern [Central America](/source/Central_America). ==Description== Tapaculos are small to medium-sized birds, with a total length ranging from 10–24 cm (4–9½ in). These are terrestrial species that fly only poorly on their short wings. They have strong legs, well-suited to their habitat of grassland or forest undergrowth. The tail is cocked and pointed towards the head, and the name ''tapaculo'' probably derives from [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) for loincloth. Another possible explanation is that it originates from the [Chile](/source/Chile)an name for the [white-throated tapaculo](/source/white-throated_tapaculo), simply ''tapaculo'', which is an [onomatopoeic](/source/onomatopoeic) reference to its commonly heard song.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} While the majority of the family are small blackish or brown birds there are some larger and more colourful species. All tapaculos are skulking birds that frequently stay low in dense vegetation, even the larger, colorful species, and this renders them difficult to see. They are best located and – in the case of ''Scytalopus'' spp. – identified by their vocalisations. They feed on insects, seeds and other soft plant material with their pointed [bills](/source/beak), and will scratch on the ground like a [pheasant](/source/pheasant). Most species lay two or three white [eggs](/source/egg_(biology)) in a covered location, whether it be a burrow, a hole in a tree, or a domed nest.{{sfn|Krabbe|Schulenberg|2003|pp=759-761}} ==Status and conservation== Some species have highly localized distributions and, being poor fliers, they easily become isolated in small populations. [BirdLife International](/source/BirdLife_International) currently (2007) consider one species [vulnerable](/source/Vulnerable_species) (''Scytalopus panamensis''), three species [endangered](/source/endangered) ([''S. iraiensis''](/source/Scytalopus_iraiensis), ''[S. rodriguezi](/source/Scytalopus_rodriguezi)'' and ''[S. robbinsi](/source/Scytalopus_robbinsi)''), and two species [critically endangered](/source/critically_endangered) ([''Eleoscytalopus psychopompus''](/source/Bahia_tapaculo) and ''[Merulaxis stresemanni](/source/Merulaxis_stresemanni)''). The two critically endangered species are restricted to [Atlantic forest](/source/Atlantic_forest) of eastern Brazil, and were only recently rediscovered after several years without any records. ==Taxonomy== {{See also|List of tapaculos}} The tapaculos were traditionally placed in a distinct [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) '''Rhinocryptidae'''; more recent research{{Cite journal | last1=Irestedt | first1=M. | last2=Fjeldså | first2=J. | last3=Johansson | first3=U.S. | last4=Ericson | first4=P.G.P. | date=2002 | title=Systematic relationships and biogeography of the tracheophone suboscines (Aves: Passeriformes) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=23 | issue=3 | pages=499-512 | doi=10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00034-9}}{{Cite journal | last=Rice | first=Nathan H. | date=2005 | title=Phylogenetic relationships of antpitta genera (Passeriformes: Formicariidae) | journal=The Auk | volume=122 | issue=2 | pages=673-683 | doi=10.1093/auk/122.2.673 | doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal | last=Rice | first=Nathan H. | date=2005 | title=Further evidence for paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes) | journal=The Condor | volume=107 | issue=4 | pages=910-915 | doi=10.1093/condor/107.4.910 | doi-access=free}} indicates that according to analysis of [mt](/source/mtDNA) and [nDNA](/source/nDNA) [sequence](/source/DNA_sequence) data, the tapaculos might be better merged into the [Formicariidae](/source/Formicariidae) as [tribe](/source/tribe_(biology)) '''Rhinocryptini''', as they are closer to the antthrushes than either is to the true [antpitta](/source/antpitta)s. An alternative family name Pteroptochidae, has been used historically.{{sfn|Krabbe|Schulenberg|2003|p=748}} The phylogenetic tree shown below is based on a large-scale genetic study of the [suboscines](/source/suboscines) by Michael Harvey and collaborators that was published in 2020.{{Cite journal | last1=Harvey | first1=M.G. | display-authors=etal | date=2020 | title=The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot | journal=Science | volume=370 | issue=6522 | pages=1343-1348 | doi=10.1126/science.aaz6970 | hdl=10138/329703 | hdl-access=free }} A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website [http://www.harveybirdlab.org/docs/Harveyetal2020_Fig1_tree_HiRes.pdf here]. The species numbers are from the list maintained by the [International Ornithologists' Union](/source/International_Ornithologists'_Union) (IOC). {{clade | style=font-size:90%;line-height:90% |label1='''Rhinocryptidae''' |1={{Clade |1={{clade |1={{Clade |1=''[Pteroptochos](/source/Pteroptochos)'' – huet-huets and moustached turca (3 species) |2=''[Scelorchilus](/source/Scelorchilus)'' – tapaculos (2 species) }} |2={{Clade |1={{Clade |1=''[Liosceles](/source/Liosceles)'' – rusty-belted tapaculo |2=''[Psilorhamphus](/source/Psilorhamphus)'' – spotted bamboowren }} |2={{Clade |1=''[Acropternis](/source/Acropternis)'' – ocellated tapaculo |2={{Clade |1=''[Rhinocrypta](/source/Rhinocrypta)'' – crested gallito |2=''[Teledromas](/source/Teledromas)'' – sandy gallito }} }} }} }} |2={{Clade |1={{Clade |1=''[Eleoscytalopus](/source/Eleoscytalopus)'' – tapaculos (2 species) |2=''[Merulaxis](/source/Merulaxis)'' – bristlefronts (2 species) }} |2={{Clade |1=''[Myornis](/source/Myornis)'' – ash-colored tapaculo |2={{Clade |1=''[Eugralla](/source/Eugralla)'' – ochre-flanked tapaculo |2=''[Scytalopus](/source/Scytalopus)'' – tapaculos (49 species) }} }} }} }} }} The species-limits within the genus ''[Scytalopus](/source/Scytalopus)'' have historically been difficult to determine. The birds are highly [cryptic](/source/Crypsis),{{Cite web |title=Scientists on the Trail of One of the World's Rarest Birds Are Treated to a Special Show |url=https://www.audubon.org/news/scientists-trail-one-worlds-rarest-birds-are-treated-special-show |website=Audubon |date=March 2019 |access-date=April 14, 2025}} and identification using visual features often is impossible. Vocal and [biochemical](/source/biochemical) data is typically needed to clarify the [taxonomic](/source/Taxonomy_(biology)) status of the various populations. Several [new species](/source/Bird_species_new_to_science_described_in_the_2000s) have been described in recent years (e.g. [''S. whitneyi''](/source/Scytalopus_whitneyi) and [''S. frankeae''](/source/Scytalopus_frankeae) from [Peru](/source/Peru)). The Brazilian taxa are similarly complex with several recently described species and considerable confusion surrounding the use of the scientific name ''[Scytalopus speluncae](/source/Scytalopus_speluncae)''. Additionally, still undescribed species are known to exist, while some species as currently defined actually may include several species (e.g. the southern population of the [large-footed tapaculo](/source/large-footed_tapaculo) may represent a yet undescribed species). The confusing situation is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that only ten species were recognized in this genus in 1970, while the figure now is more than four times as high.{{sfn|Krabbe|Schulenberg|2003|p=751}}{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=January 2023 | title=Antthrushes, antpittas, gnateaters, tapaculos, crescentchests | work=IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/antthrushes/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | accessdate=16 March 2023}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Cited sources== {{refbegin}} *{{ cite book | last1=Krabbe | first1=N.K. | last2=Schulenberg | first2=T.S. | year=2003 | chapter=Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos) | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Christie | editor3-first=D.A. | title=Handbook of the Birds of the World | volume=8: Broadbills to Tapaculos | location=Barcelona | publisher=Lynx Edicions | pages=748-788 | isbn=978-84-87334-50-4 | chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0008unse/page/748/mode/1up | chapter-url-access=registration }} {{refend}} ==External links== {{Commons|Rhinocryptidae}} {{Wikispecies|Rhinocryptidae}} *[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/tapaculos-rhinocryptidae Tapaculo videos] on the Internet Bird Collection {{Taxonbar|from=Q390189}} Category:Formicariidae * Category:Taxa named by Alexander Wetmore Category:Tapaculos --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tapaculo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapaculo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapaculo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.