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Junin crake
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Gruiformes
Family:	Rallidae
Genus:	Laterallus
Species:	L. jamaicensis
Subspecies:	L. j. tuerosi
Trinomial name
Laterallus jamaicensis tuerosi Fjeldså, 1983

The Junin crake or Junin rail (Laterallus jamaicensis tuerosi) is an elusive and rare bird in the family Rallidae found only in marshy habitats around Lake Junin in the Andean highlands of west-central Peru.

The taxonomic position of the Junin crake is disputed: It was first described as a subspecies of the black rail in 1983 and in later years it has variably been considered a black rail subspecies or its own species. Its plumage is highly distinct compared to other black rail subspecies, but its voice is rather similar to those of the two other South American subspecies (L. j. murivagans of coastal Peru and L. j. salinasi of Chile and Argentina), although it does show some differences. However, their voices are quite distinct from the voices of black rails of North America. Preliminary evidence also suggests that the Galapagos crake, another member of this species complex, has a voice that resembles that of the South American black rails.

Regardless of its taxonomic position, the Junin crake is seriously threatened, mostly due to habitat loss, and it is considered endangered by the IUCN. Several other threatened animals, including two birds, the Junin grebe (Podiceps taczanowskii) and the Junin white-tufted grebe (Rollandia rolland), are restricted to the same lake.

References

1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Laterallus tuerosi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22692358A93350323. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692358A93350323.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Mongabay: Animal photos of the day: the most elusive bird in the world?
3. ^ "Elevate Laterallus jamaicensis tuerosi to species status". South American Classification Committee. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
4. ^ Dinesen, L.; Chamorro, A.; Fjeldså, J.; Aucca, C- (2017). "Distribution and habitat description of Junín Rail Laterallus tuerosi, Andean Peru". Bird Conservation International. 27: 388–397. doi:10.1017/S0959270916000599.
5. Dinesen, L.; Chamorro, A.; Fjeldså, J.; Aucca, C- (2019). "Long-term declines in waterbirds abundance at Lake Junín, Andean Peru". Bird Conservation International. 29: 83–99. doi:10.1017/S0959270918000230.

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• IUCN Red List endangered species
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• Birds of the Peruvian Andes
• Endemic birds of Peru
• Birds described in 1983
• Gruiformes stubs