Aulacorhynchus
Encyclopedia
The green toucanets are near-passerine birds from the genus
Aulacorhynchus in the toucan
family. They are native to Mexico
, and Central
and South America
. All are found in humid forests and woodland
s in highlands, but a few also occur in adjacent lowlands. They are relatively small toucans, 30–44 cm (11.8–17.3 in) long, with colorful, mainly green, plumage
. They are typically seen in pairs or small groups, and sometimes follow mixed species flocks.
review in 1974 resulted in 6 species in the genus Aulacorhynchus, and this has been followed by virtually all later authorities.
In 2001, it was suggested that A. prasinus
, as traditionally defined, was a species complex
that should be split into 7 different species based on preliminary morphological
evidence. This has to some extent been supported by genetic
evidence, which suggests that an additional species should be recognized (griseigularis is included in A. albivitta based on morphological evidence, but the two are split based on genetic evidence). Additionally, genetic evidence supports splitting A. derbianus
into two separate species, but it does not support splitting A. sulcatus
into two separate species, as has been recommended earlier.
At present, most authorities maintain that the genus Aulacorhynchus only has 6 species (with the remaining treated as subspecies
), but SACC do recognize the need for a review of the A. prasinus and A. derbianus complexes.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Aulacorhynchus in the toucan
Toucan
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...
family. They are native to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. All are found in humid forests and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s in highlands, but a few also occur in adjacent lowlands. They are relatively small toucans, 30–44 cm (11.8–17.3 in) long, with colorful, mainly green, plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
. They are typically seen in pairs or small groups, and sometimes follow mixed species flocks.
Taxonomy
A major taxonomyTaxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
review in 1974 resulted in 6 species in the genus Aulacorhynchus, and this has been followed by virtually all later authorities.
In 2001, it was suggested that A. prasinus
Emerald Toucanet
The Emerald Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus, is a near-passerine bird occurring in mountainous regions from Mexico, through Central America, to northern Venezuela and along the Andes as far south as central Bolivia...
, as traditionally defined, was a species complex
Species complex
A species complex is a group of closely related species, where the exact demarcation between species is often unclear or cryptic owing to their recent and usually still incomplete reproductive isolation. Ring species, superspecies and cryptic species complex are example of species complex...
that should be split into 7 different species based on preliminary morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
evidence. This has to some extent been supported by genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
evidence, which suggests that an additional species should be recognized (griseigularis is included in A. albivitta based on morphological evidence, but the two are split based on genetic evidence). Additionally, genetic evidence supports splitting A. derbianus
Chestnut-tipped Toucanet
The Chestnut-tipped Toucanet is a South American species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It occurs in two distinct populations: The nominate group in humid highland forests along the east Andean slope from southernmost Colombia to Bolivia, and the whitelianus group from the humid forests of...
into two separate species, but it does not support splitting A. sulcatus
Groove-billed Toucanet
The Groove-billed Toucanet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in mountains of northern Colombia and northern Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical and upper tropical humid forest and woodland, occasionally also occurring in gardens. It includes the Yellow-billed...
into two separate species, as has been recommended earlier.
At present, most authorities maintain that the genus Aulacorhynchus only has 6 species (with the remaining treated as subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
), but SACC do recognize the need for a review of the A. prasinus and A. derbianus complexes.
Species
- Blue-banded ToucanetBlue-banded ToucanetThe Blue-banded Toucanet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family.It is found in Bolivia and Peru....
(Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis) - Chestnut-tipped ToucanetChestnut-tipped ToucanetThe Chestnut-tipped Toucanet is a South American species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It occurs in two distinct populations: The nominate group in humid highland forests along the east Andean slope from southernmost Colombia to Bolivia, and the whitelianus group from the humid forests of...
(Aulacorhynchus derbianus)- Whitely's Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (derbianus) whitelianus)
- Crimson-rumped ToucanetCrimson-rumped ToucanetThe Crimson-rumped Toucanet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in humid Andean forests in Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Its plumage is overall green , except for a maroon-red rump and tail-tip. The bill is black and maroon with a white band at the base...
(Aulacorhynchus haematopygus) - Yellow-browed ToucanetYellow-browed ToucanetThe Yellow-browed Toucanet is a rare species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. Among the least known members of the family, it is endemic to humid forests growing on the east Andean slope in northern Peru. It is threatened by habitat loss, and consequently considered endangered by BirdLife...
(Aulacorhynchus huallagae) - Emerald ToucanetEmerald ToucanetThe Emerald Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus, is a near-passerine bird occurring in mountainous regions from Mexico, through Central America, to northern Venezuela and along the Andes as far south as central Bolivia...
(Aulacorhynchus prasinus)- Wagler's Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) wagleri)
- Blue-throated ToucanetBlue-throated ToucanetThe Blue-throated Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis, is a near-passerine bird living in the mountain forests of Costa Rica and western Panama...
(Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) caeruleogularis) - Violet-throated or Nelson's Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) cognatus)
- Santa Marta Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) lautus)
- (North) Andean or White-throated Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) albivitta)
- Plumbeous-throated or Grey-throated Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) griseigularis)
- Black-throated or Peruvian Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) atrogularis)
- Groove-billed ToucanetGroove-billed ToucanetThe Groove-billed Toucanet is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in mountains of northern Colombia and northern Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical and upper tropical humid forest and woodland, occasionally also occurring in gardens. It includes the Yellow-billed...
(Aulacorhynchus sulcatus)- Yellow-billed Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus (sulcatus) calorhynchus)