Undulated tinamou
| Undulated tinamou | |
|---|---|
 |
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| C. undulatus vermiculatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Tinamiformes |
| Family: | Tinamidae |
| Subfamily: | Tinaminae |
| Genus: | Crypturellus |
| Species: | C. undulatus |
| Binomial name | |
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Crypturellus undulatus (Temminck, 1815) |
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| Subspecies | |
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C. u. undulatus (Temminck, 1815) |
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C. u. undulatus (Temminck, 1815)
C. u. manapiare Phelps & Phelps, 1952
C. u. simplex (Salvadori, 1895)
C. u. adspersus (Temminck, 1815)
C. u. yapura (Spix, 1825)
C. u. vermiculatus (Temminck, 1815)
The undulated tinamou (Crypturellus undulatus) is a species of ground bird found in a wide range of wooded habitats in eastern and northern South America.
Crypturellus is formed from three Latin or Greek words. Kruptos meaning covered or hidden, oura meaning tail, and ellus meaning diminutive. Therefore Crypturellus means small hidden tail. The species name undulatus originates from the Latin word for wave, and refers to the wave-like pattern on its plumage.
All tinamous 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.
However, the exact distribution limits of some of the subspecies are unclear. Notably the population between the Madeira and Purús Rivers (between generally reported range of C. u. adspersus and C. u. yapura), and the population between the Tapajós and Araguaia Rivers (between generally reported range of C. u. adspersus and C. u. vermiculatus) appear not to have been assigned to subspecies.
The undulated tinamou is approximately 28 to 30 cm (11.0–11.8 in) in length, and weighs around 300 grams (0.66 lb). Depending on subspecies, it is overall brownish tinged grey to various extend, and has a strong, black barred to faint vermiculated pattern on the back and neck (for example, while C. u. undulatus is relatively rich brown and strongly barred, C. u. yapura is darker, more grey-tinged and only has faint vermiculations). It has a whitish throat, and the remainder of its underparts are olive-grey to buff with dark vermiculation on its lower flanks and vent. Its bill is black above and grey below. The legs and feet are grey, dull yellow or greenish.
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Wikipedia