| Tepui antpitta | |
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| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Grallariidae |
| Genus: | Myrmothera |
| Species: | M. simplex |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrmothera simplex (Salvin & Godman, 1884) | |
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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.
Taxonomy and systematics
The tepui antpitta was originally described in 1884 as Grallaria simplex. It was later transferred to genus Myrmothera. At least one twentieth century author used the name "brown-breasted antpitta" for the species.
The tepui antpitta has these four subspecies:
- M. s. pacaraimae Phelps, WH Jr & Dickerman, 1980
- M. s. simplex (Salvin & Godman, 1884)
- M. s. guaiquinimae Zimmer, JT & Phelps, WH, 1946
- M. s. duidae Chapman, 1929
Description
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.
Distribution and habitat
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:
- M. s. pacaraimae: southeastern Amazonas and southern Bolívar states in Venezuela and in adjacent northwestern Brazil
- M. s. simplex Mount Roraima and the Gran Sabana in southeastern Bolívar state and adjacent Guyana
- M. s. guaiquinimae: several tepuis in northwestern and central Bolívar state
- M. s. duidae: several tepuis in Amazonas state
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).
Behavior
Movement
The tepui antpitta is a year-round resident throughout its range.
Feeding
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.
Breeding
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.
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Songs and calls Listen to the tepui antpitta on xeno-canto |
Vocalization
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".
Status
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. It is considered uncommon to fairly common and occurs in several protected areas.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Tepui antpitta Myrmothera simplex". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22703358A93919033. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22703358A93919033.en. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Antthrushes, antpittas, gnateaters, tapaculos, crescentchests". IOC World Bird List. v 14.2. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- Salvin, Osbert; Godman, Frederick DuCane (1884). "Grallaria simplex". Ibis. II: 451. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- Lowery, G.H., and J.P. O’Neill. 1969. A new species of antpitta from Peru and a revision of the subfamily Grallariinae. Auk 86: 1-12.
- Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 27 July 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved July 28, 2024
- Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1970. A guide to the birds of South America. Livingston Publishing Co., Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
- ^ Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Tepui Antpitta (Myrmothera simplex), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.tepant1.01 retrieved September 16, 2024
- ^ Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela (second ed.). Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. pp. Plate 43.
- ^ van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 266–267. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7.