Grallaria chthonia

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	PASSERIFORMES	FORMICARIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Grallaria chthonia

Species Authority:

Wetmore & Phelps, 1956

Common Name/s:

English

–

Tachira Antpitta, Táchira Antpitta

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered C2a(ii);D ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Boesman, P., Pearman, M., Sharpe, C J

Justification:
There have been no records of this species since 1956, and, although it may persist within a large national park, it probably has a tiny population which is likely to be declining owing to ongoing forest loss in the region. For these reasons it qualifies as Critically Endangered.

History:

2008	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Grallaria chthonia is known only from the type-locality, at Hacienda la Providencia on the río Chiquita in south-west Táchira, west Venezuela, where four specimens were collected in 1955-1956. The type locality has since been deforested, although there is still forest in the vicinity; specific searches in September 1990 and December 1996 failed to find the species^1,2,3.
Countries:	Native: Venezuela
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Precautionary population estimate for consistency with other species in a similar predicament.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Precautionary population estimate for consistency with other species in a similar predicament.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	All specimens were collected in dense cloud-forest at elevations of 1,800-2,100 m.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In 1990, habitat at the type-locality was reportedly undisturbed above 1,150 m, but deforestation was proceeding rapidly in the area³. In 1996, the río Chiquita valley was entirely coffee plantations below 1,600 m, with much habitat at 1,900-2,200 m converted to grow potatoes and other vegetables². The next valley to the west had some habitat at c.1,850 m, and there is presumably habitat in between these two valleys².

Major Threat(s):

In 1990, habitat at the type-locality was reportedly undisturbed above 1,150 m, but deforestation was proceeding rapidly in the area³. In 1996, the río Chiquita valley was entirely coffee plantations below 1,600 m, with much habitat at 1,900-2,200 m converted to grow potatoes and other vegetables². The next valley to the west had some habitat at c.1,850 m, and there is presumably habitat in between these two valleys².

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The type-locality is within El Tamá National Park. Conservation Actions Proposed Carry out further surveys (especially in May-June when it should be most vocal) in the vicinity of the type-locality to attempt to relocate the species and assess its current status and ecological requirements^2,5. Reassess the potential impact of deforestation. Ensure the de facto protection of El Tamá National Park. Determine its taxonomic status.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The type-locality is within El Tamá National Park.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out further surveys (especially in May-June when it should be most vocal) in the vicinity of the type-locality to attempt to relocate the species and assess its current status and ecological requirements^2,5. Reassess the potential impact of deforestation. Ensure the de facto protection of El Tamá National Park. Determine its taxonomic status.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Grallaria chthonia. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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