Guaruba guarouba

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	PSITTACIFORMES	PSITTACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Guaruba guarouba

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1788)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Golden Conure, Golden Parakeet
Spanish	–	Aratinga Guaruba

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Ridgely, R., Yamashita, C., Olmos, F.

Justification:
This species has a very small population which is semi-nomadic along rivers in the Amazon basin, and has suffered from habitat loss and extensive trapping for trade. It is consequently listed as Endangered.

History:

2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Guaruba guarouba is endemic to Brazil, where most records come from between the Tocantins, lower Xingú and Tapajós rivers in the Amazon basin of Pará. There are additional records from adjacent north Maranhão (populations survive around Gurupi and the rio Capim⁴), Rondônia (one record at Jamari in 1989, but not subsequently despite surveys²) and Mato Grosso (one record at Alta Floresta in 1991¹). It may always have been scarce, but overall numbers must have declined very considerably.
Countries:	Native: Brazil
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate = 0.9-2.5 individuals/km² x 1,030 km² (1% EOO) = 927-2,575, i.e. best placed within band 1,000-2,499 (density lowest of three estimates for closely-related Aratinga leucophthalmus in the BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet; AOO taken as low % of EOO, as species nomadic within an increasingly deforested and fragmented range).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is apparently nomadic in lowland humid forest. In the dry season, it frequents the canopy of tall terra firme forest but, in the breeding season, appears to inhabit clearings with few scattered trees. Tree-cavities are used for nesting and roosting. It feeds on fruit, berries, seeds and nuts and, seasonally, on crops (especially maize, which ripens immediately before fledging). Breeding generally occurs in December-April, but has been noted in October. Breeding is apparently communal, with several females contributing two or three eggs to each nest and several adults caring for the young. Up to nine young have been recorded in a nest in the wild, and up to 14 in captivity.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is apparently nomadic in lowland humid forest. In the dry season, it frequents the canopy of tall terra firme forest but, in the breeding season, appears to inhabit clearings with few scattered trees. Tree-cavities are used for nesting and roosting. It feeds on fruit, berries, seeds and nuts and, seasonally, on crops (especially maize, which ripens immediately before fledging). Breeding generally occurs in December-April, but has been noted in October. Breeding is apparently communal, with several females contributing two or three eggs to each nest and several adults caring for the young. Up to nine young have been recorded in a nest in the wild, and up to 14 in captivity.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat destruction and fragmentation as a result of road construction, subsequent development and settlement, with accompanying illegal logging, is a threat in the east of its range. Mahogany exploitation is particularly concerning in the Tocantins-Xingú area³. Selective logging of primary hardwoods removes suitable roosting and nesting cavities.⁵ It is trapped for trade (usually while roosting) and highly desired in both international and national trade. It is hunted for food, feathers, sport and to curtail crop damage.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat destruction and fragmentation as a result of road construction, subsequent development and settlement, with accompanying illegal logging, is a threat in the east of its range. Mahogany exploitation is particularly concerning in the Tocantins-Xingú area³. Selective logging of primary hardwoods removes suitable roosting and nesting cavities.⁵ It is trapped for trade (usually while roosting) and highly desired in both international and national trade. It is hunted for food, feathers, sport and to curtail crop damage.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II and protected under Brazilian law (and has been proposed as the national bird of Brazil), but this legal status may have highlighted its value to dealers. A population is relatively well-protected in Tapajós National Park, and a remnant population may survive in Gurupi Biological Reserve. Jamari National Forest is poorly protected and suffers constant pressure from squatters, loggers and poachers². Conservation of this species in reserves is problematic because of its apparent nomadism. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey to discover new populations, especially in the south and west of its range. Ensure the de facto protection of Gurupi Biological Reserve. Maintain the integrity of Tapajós National Park. Protect and manage intervening areas to facilitate nomadic movements. Enforce legal restrictions on trade, especially in internal markets.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II and protected under Brazilian law (and has been proposed as the national bird of Brazil), but this legal status may have highlighted its value to dealers. A population is relatively well-protected in Tapajós National Park, and a remnant population may survive in Gurupi Biological Reserve. Jamari National Forest is poorly protected and suffers constant pressure from squatters, loggers and poachers². Conservation of this species in reserves is problematic because of its apparent nomadism.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to discover new populations, especially in the south and west of its range. Ensure the de facto protection of Gurupi Biological Reserve. Maintain the integrity of Tapajós National Park. Protect and manage intervening areas to facilitate nomadic movements. Enforce legal restrictions on trade, especially in internal markets.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Guaruba guarouba. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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