Lesser Nothura
Encyclopedia
The Lesser Nothura is a type of Tinamou
found in lowland dry grassland habitats in subtropical and tropical regions of southeastern South America
.
s. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
. It doesn't seem to like recently burned grasslands.
and recently in one location in east-central Paraguay
. It has been found in Brasilia National Park
, IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve, and Taguatinga
in the Federal District
, Emas National Park
and Luziânia
in Goiás
and Serra da Canastra National Park
and Serra do Cipó National Park
in Minas Gerais
, Itapetininga Experimental Station and Itirapina Experimental Station in São Paulo
, and at Laguna Blanca
, San Pedro department.
due to the fragmentation of its population and the loss of its primary habitat. It has an occurrence range of 3000 km² (1,158.3 sq mi) and a 2000 estimate of adult birds placed it at around 9000, which may be a little liberal.
The habitats inhabited by Lesser Nothura are being rapidly destroyed by mechanised agriculture
, intensive cattle-ranching, afforestation
, invasive grasses, excessive use of pesticide
s and annual burning. By 1993, two-thirds of the Cerrado
region had been heavily or moderately altered, with most of the destruction having occurred since 1950. Farming, ranching, fires, and pesticide are the practices that have the most impact on this species.
The Lesser Nothura is protected under Brazilian law
, and conserved in Brasília National Park
, Emas National Park
and Serra da Canastra National Park
, IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve, Itapetininga Experimental Station and Itirapina Experimental Station. It has been proposed to survey suitable habitat in Serra do Cipó National Park
and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
, using tape-playback. It was also proposed to identify other unprotected areas of suitable habitat in north-eastern Paraguay
, north and west Minas Gerais
, and Goiás
.
Tinamou
The tinamous are a family comprising 47 species of birds found in Central and South America. One of the most ancient living groups of bird, they are related to the ratites. Generally ground dwelling, they are found in a range of habitats....
found in lowland dry grassland habitats in subtropical and tropical regions of southeastern 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...
.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species. All Tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also RatiteRatite
A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanan origin, most of them now extinct. Unlike other flightless birds, the ratites have no keel on their sternum—hence the name from the Latin ratis...
s. Unlike other Ratites, Tinamous can fly, although in general, they are not strong fliers. All ratites evolved from prehistoric flying birds, and Tinamous are the closest living relative of these birds.
Habitats
The Lesser Nothura inhabits lowland the dry grassland habitats of subtropical or tropical regions at an altitude range of 200 to 1000 m (656.2 to 3,280.8 ft). This Tinamou can also be found in dry shrubland and savannaSavanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
. It doesn't seem to like recently burned grasslands.
Range
The Lesser Nothura is found in parts of southeastern BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and recently in one location in east-central Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. It has been found in Brasilia National Park
Brasília National Park
The Brasília National Park is a national park located 10km from the center of Brasília, in the Federal District, in the center west of Brazil.-External links:*...
, IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve, and Taguatinga
Taguatinga (Federal District)
Taguatinga is an administrative region of Federal District, Brazil.Population: 243.575 inhabitants .It is now considered the economic capital of the Federal District.OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF GOVERNMENT: http://www.taguatinga.df.gov.br...
in the Federal District
Federal district
Federal districts are a type of administrative division of a federation, under the direct control of a federal government. They exist in various countries and states all over the world.-United States:...
, Emas National Park
Emas National Park
The Emas National Park |Rhea]] National Park") is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Sitein the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil.-Description:...
and Luziânia
Luziânia
Luziânia is a city and municipality in the state of Goiás, Brazil. This fast-growing city is a great producer of agricultural products including soybeans and beans.-Location:Luziânia is located 68 km...
in Goiás
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
and Serra da Canastra National Park
Serra da Canastra National Park
The Serra da Canastra National Park is located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, between 20º00’—20º30’ S and 46º15’—47º00’ W.-External links:** *...
and Serra do Cipó National Park
Serra do Cipó National Park
The Serra do Cipó National Park is located 100 km from Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, between 43°–44° W and 19°–20° S.-External links:** *...
in Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, Itapetininga Experimental Station and Itirapina Experimental Station in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, and at Laguna Blanca
Laguna Blanca (Paraguay)
Laguna Blanca is an ecologic and touristic location of Paraguay that comprehends an agricultural and cattle establishment, with a lake that is settled over calcareous sand, fact that makes the water completely transparent and apt for diving.-Location:...
, San Pedro department.
Description
The Lesser Nothura is approximately 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) in length. The Lesser Nothura is rufescent with a chestnut crown and yellow mottling. Its face is buff, shades of yellow on its throat and dark brown spots turning to streaks at its breast. Its flanks have brown markings and its underparts are chestnut with rufous barring, its wings are rufous with dusky barring. Its legs are yellow, and its bill is black, and it has brown irises.Behavior
Its voice consists of long, high-pitched whistles. It probably breeds between October and February.Conservation
The IUCN has classified this species as VulnerableVulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
due to the fragmentation of its population and the loss of its primary habitat. It has an occurrence range of 3000 km² (1,158.3 sq mi) and a 2000 estimate of adult birds placed it at around 9000, which may be a little liberal.
The habitats inhabited by Lesser Nothura are being rapidly destroyed by mechanised agriculture
Mechanised agriculture
Mechanized agriculture is the process of using agricultural machinery to mechanize the work of agriculture, massively increasing farm output and farm worker productivity...
, intensive cattle-ranching, afforestation
Afforestation
Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no forest. Reforestation is the reestablishment of forest cover, either naturally or artificially...
, invasive grasses, excessive use of pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s and annual burning. By 1993, two-thirds of the Cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
region had been heavily or moderately altered, with most of the destruction having occurred since 1950. Farming, ranching, fires, and pesticide are the practices that have the most impact on this species.
The Lesser Nothura is protected under Brazilian law
Brazilian law
Brazilian law derives from Portuguese Civil law and is based on statutes and, partly and more recently, súmula vinculante . The Federal Constitution, in force since October 5, 1988, is the supreme law of the country and is the characterized by its rigid written form...
, and conserved in Brasília National Park
Brasília National Park
The Brasília National Park is a national park located 10km from the center of Brasília, in the Federal District, in the center west of Brazil.-External links:*...
, Emas National Park
Emas National Park
The Emas National Park |Rhea]] National Park") is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Sitein the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil.-Description:...
and Serra da Canastra National Park
Serra da Canastra National Park
The Serra da Canastra National Park is located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, between 20º00’—20º30’ S and 46º15’—47º00’ W.-External links:** *...
, IBGE Roncador Biological Reserve, Itapetininga Experimental Station and Itirapina Experimental Station. It has been proposed to survey suitable habitat in Serra do Cipó National Park
Serra do Cipó National Park
The Serra do Cipó National Park is located 100 km from Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, between 43°–44° W and 19°–20° S.-External links:** *...
and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
Brazil's Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is located in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, an ancient plateau with an estimated age of 1.8 billion years. Based in the Brazilian state of Goias, the Park was created on January 11, 1961 by President Juscelino Kubitscheck, and listed as a World Heritage...
, using tape-playback. It was also proposed to identify other unprotected areas of suitable habitat in north-eastern Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, north and west Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, and Goiás
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
.