Fulica cornuta

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GRUIFORMES	RALLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Fulica cornuta

Species Authority:

Bonaparte, 1853

Common Name/s:

English

–

Horned Coot

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Justification:
This species has a moderately small global population which may be declining owing to habitat degradation and hunting. It is consequently classifed as Near Threatened.

History:

2006	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Fulica cornuta is known from a few high altitude Andean lakes in south-west Bolivia (Oruro in 1903, Potosí), north Chile (Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama), and north-west Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca in 1918, Tucumán, San Juan)³. Large concentrations have been recorded only occasionally, most notably 8,988 in the Vilama and Pululos area of Argentina in October 1995⁶, and 2,800 birds on Laguna Pelada, Bolivia, in November 1989¹. It normally occurs at low densities, with 1-10 nesting pairs at most sites, and up to 70-90 at a few^5,6. The Chilean population is estimated at 620 birds², and Bolivia seems to hold a healthy population⁴. The global population is likely to be in the range of 10,000-19,999 individuals. There is no definite evidence of a recent decline⁵, but local populations are believed to fluctuate greatly between periods of drought and inundation.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Chile
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	8,988 were counted in Argentina in 1995 (Anon.1996), 2,800 in Bolivia in 1982 (Cabot and Serrano 1982) and 620 are estimated in Chile (Glade (1988). The total is probabaly in the range of 10,000-19,999 individuals, and probably fluctuates greatly.

Population:

8,988 were counted in Argentina in 1995 (Anon.1996), 2,800 in Bolivia in 1982 (Cabot and Serrano 1982) and 620 are estimated in Chile (Glade (1988). The total is probabaly in the range of 10,000-19,999 individuals, and probably fluctuates greatly.

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits high altitude Andean lakes, with dense submerged aquatic plants, primarily at 3,000-5,200 m but as low as 2,000 m in harsh weather.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Its fresh and brackish lakes are susceptible to contamination and vegetation trampling by cattle, and water is pumped from some to coastal towns and mines. It also suffers from hunting, egg-harvesting, and some predation by Andean Gull Larus serranus.

Major Threat(s):

Its fresh and brackish lakes are susceptible to contamination and vegetation trampling by cattle, and water is pumped from some to coastal towns and mines. It also suffers from hunting, egg-harvesting, and some predation by Andean Gull Larus serranus.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Laguna Pelada has some protection. Conservation Actions Proposed Research threats. Carry out population census and continue to regularly monitor the population.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Laguna Pelada has some protection.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research threats. Carry out population census and continue to regularly monitor the population.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Fulica cornuta. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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