Tepui tinamou
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Crypturellus ptaritepui

The tepui tinamou (Crypturellus ptaritepui ) is a type of ground bird found in montane moist forest on tepuis, in southeastern Venezuela.

Animal name origin

Crypturellus is formed from two Greek roots: κρυπτός (kruptos ) meaning ‘covered’ or ‘hidden’ and ουρά (oura ) meaning ‘tail’; the Latin suffix -ellus is diminutive. Thus, Crypturellus means ‘little hidden tail’.

Appearance

The tepui tinamou is approximately 27 cm (11 in) in length. The top of its head and rear of neck are rufous brown, darker on its back, and dusky below with rufous sheen on its upper breast. The sides of its head and throat are grey in color, its upper mandible is black, its lower mandible yellow with black tip, and its legs are olive in color.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

The tepui tinamou has been found on Ptari-tepuí, Auyán-tepuí, Chimantá-tepuí, and Sororopán-tepuí, in southeastern Bolívar, Venezuela. It was found in between 1,350 to 1,800 m (4,430–5,910 ft) in elevation, and its preferred habitat is tropical moist montane forest or tropical moist shrubland.

Tepui tinamou habitat map

Biome

Tepui tinamou habitat map
Tepui tinamou
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Habits and Lifestyle

Like other tinamous, the tepui eats fruit off the ground or low-lying bushes. They also eat small amounts of invertebrates, flower buds, tender leaves, seeds, and roots. The male incubates the eggs which may come from as many as 4 different females, and then will raise them until they are ready to be on their own, usually 2–3 weeks. The nest is located on the ground in dense brush or between raised root buttresses.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Population

Conservation

The IUCN classifies it as Least Concern, with an occurrence range of 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi). It is a protected species in Venezuela.

References

1. Tepui tinamou Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepui_tinamou
2. Tepui tinamou on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22678172/92759757
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/303328

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