Lesser nothura | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Tinamiformes |
Family: | Tinamidae |
Subfamily: | Nothurinae |
Genus: | Nothura |
Species: | N. minor |
Binomial name | |
Nothura minor (Spix, 1825) |
The lesser nothura (Nothura minor) is a type of tinamou found in lowland dry grassland habitats in subtropical and tropical regions of southeastern South America.
This is a monotypic species. All tinamou are from the family Tinamidae, and in the larger scheme are also ratites. 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.
The lesser nothura inhabits lowland the dry grassland habitats of subtropical or tropical regions at an altitude range of 200 to 1,000 m (660–3,280 ft). This tinamou can also be found in dry shrubland and savanna. It doesn't seem to like recently burned grasslands.
The lesser nothura is found in parts of southeastern Brazil 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.
The lesser nothura is approximately 18 to 20 cm (7.1–7.9 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.