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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.
[edit] Taxonomy and phylogenyThe family Tinamidae consists of about 47 species in 9 genera. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, tinamids have no close living relatives, and hence are placed in their own order, Tinamiformes. These taxonomic names are based on the Galibi word for these birds, "tinamu".[2] "Tinamidae" was defined as a branch-modified crown clade by Gauthier and de Queiroz (2001): "Tinamidae refers to the crown clade stemming from the most recent common ancestor of Tetrao [Tinamus] major Gmelin 1789 and all extant birds sharing a more recent ancestor with with that species than with Struthio camelus Linnaeus 1758 and Vultur gryphus Linnaeus 1758."[3] Of Gondwanan origin, tinamids are related to the ratites. Although the fossil record in South America is generally poor, the known tinamiform fossil record goes back 10 million years. Together with the ratites, they make up Palaeognathae ("old jaws"), while all other living birds are members of Neognathae ("new jaws"). Along with the other palaeognathes, tinamids have no keel on their sternum and a distinctive palate.[4] Recently, a phylogenomic study of avians surprisingly showed tinamids as the sister group of Australasian/Oceanian ratites (cassowaries, emus, and kiwi), with South American ratites (rheas) and African ratites (ostriches) as successive outgroups.[5] Tinamou can also be divided into two subfamilies, Nothurinae and Tinaminae. Nothurinae are referred to as aridland Tinamou, and Tinamine are referred to as forest Tinamou.[6] [edit] Species in taxonomic orderMain article: List of tinamidae FAMILY: TINAMIDAE
[edit] DescriptionThey are slender and compact birds, with a small head and a short slender bill, that is downward curving. The smallest species, the Dwarf Tinamou, is about 43 g (1.5 oz) and 20 cm (7.9 in) long. The largest tinamou, the Gray Tinamou, weighs 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) and measures up to 53 cm (21 in) long.[4] They have very small wings, but unlike other ratites, they can fly, albeit poorly. They have three forward facing toes, and their hind toe is higher and either retrogressed or absent. Their tail is short and sometimes hidden behind coverts, and some Tinamou have crests. Also, unlike other ratites, they have a preen gland. Plumage doesn't differ between sexes, except a few that have brighter females.[4] [edit] Range and habitatThere are 47 species of tinamou in South America and north to Mexico, not much further than the Tropic of Cancer, and one species on Easter Island. They occur in a wide range of habitats. Tinamus, Nothocercus, and Cryptuerellus live in the dense forests, and most of the others live on grassland, puna, montane, and savanna, at high altitude.[4] [edit] BehaviorTinamous are rarely seen, but often heard within their range. They prefer to walk or run and will fly rarely in dangerous situations. When they have exhausted all other techniques including hiding in burrows, they may fly. Their technique is a flutter of wing-beats followed by a long glide, followed by another burst of wing-beats.[4] Although some species are quite common, they are shy and secretive. A small number of species live in more open, grassy country, but even these are wary.[8]. Tinamous have a wide variety of calls, but one thing they have in common is their beauty.[4] [edit] ReproductionTinamous lay several eggs in a ground nest lined with grass and leaves, and the male will incubate the eggs. He will leave the nest to feed, and he may be gone from 45 minutes to 5 hours. Typically, the male will not cover the eggs when he leaves to feed, even though the eggs are not camouflaged. In most Tinamou species, the male is polygamous and the female is polyandrous.[4] The eggs are attractively coloured, in a single colour and have a hard gloss like porcelain. The young are precocial, and can run almost as soon as they hatch. Scientist believe that they are self-sufficient within 20 days.[4] [edit] FeedingTinamous mainly eat small fruits and seeds off the ground or off of plants that are close to the ground. They can jump 10 cm (3.9 in) to reach their food. They also will eat buds, blossoms, tender leaves and roots, as well as insects and their larvae, worms, and mollusks. Small animals will be eaten whole, whereas larger ones will be beaten against the ground or pecked. When sifting through leaves, they use their bill and not their feet, and even will use it to sift through soil 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in).[4][8] [edit] Conservation7 of the 47 species are classified as other than Least Concern, with 5 Vulnerable and 2 Near Threatened.[9] The major reason behind their status is habitat fragmentation and enchroachment.[4] [edit] Significance to humansTinamous are hunted by humans throughout their range, to little negative impact on their population.[4] [edit] Footnotes[edit] References
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