Rhea pennata

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	STRUTHIONIFORMES	RHEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Rhea pennata

Species Authority:

d'Orbigny, 1834

Common Name/s:

English	–	Darwin's Rhea, Lesser Rhea
Spanish	–	Avestruz de Magallanes, Ñandú Cordillerano, Ñandú Petizo

Taxonomic Notes:

Pterocnemia pennata (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was provisionally split into P. pennata and P. tarapacensis by Stotz et al. (1996) but this treatment has not been adopted, following SACC (2005). Use of the genus Rhea follows SACC (2008).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Jaramillo, A., Knapton, B. & Pearman, M.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Near Threatened as declines in its population are suspected to approach the threshold for classification as Vulnerable.

History:

2008	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened
1988	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Rhea pennata occurs in three subspecies: pennata in south Chile, west-central and south Argentina, with an introduced population in north Tierra del Fuego; tarapacensis in north Chile; and garleppi in south Peru, south-west Bolivia and north-west Argentina. All populations have declined markedly and the northern subspecies are in serious danger of extinction (Folch 1992). The combined population of tarapacensis and garleppi is estimated at several hundred birds, with the healthiest populations in Argentina (densities at two sites of 2-5 birds/km²) (Chebez 1994). In 1983, the Peruvian population was estimated at 18 individuals, with very low numbers in north Chile (principally in Lauca National Park [A. Jaramillo in litt. 1999]) and on the altiplano in Bolivia.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Chile; Peru
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'uncommon' (Stotz et al. 1996).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The nominate subspecies inhabits steppe, shrubland, shrub-steppe and mallines (successional wetlands with bog, meadows and ponds) (Bellis et al. 2006), up to 1,500 m, generally breeding in upland areas with bunch-grass. The northern subspecies are found in desertic salt puna, pumice flats, upland bogs and tola (Lepidophyllum) heath in altiplano at 3,000-4,500 m, down to 1,500 m in the south.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I (except nominate race, which is on Appendix II). Conservation Actions Proposed Develop campaigns to raise awareness and reduce hunting, egg-collecting and the domestication of wild immature birds. Prevent illegal hunting and egg-collecting, while developing alternative sustainable harvesting programmes (Barri et al. 2008b). Harvest "orphan eggs" (eggs sporadically laid outside nests) for use in captive breeding and reintroduction programmes (Barri et al. 2008a). Maintain "mallín" (meadow) habitats in adequate condition as nesting sites (Bellis et al. 2006, Barri et al. 2008b, Barri et al. 2009). Monitor remaining populations of tarapacensis and garleppi.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I (except nominate race, which is on Appendix II).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Develop campaigns to raise awareness and reduce hunting, egg-collecting and the domestication of wild immature birds. Prevent illegal hunting and egg-collecting, while developing alternative sustainable harvesting programmes (Barri et al. 2008b). Harvest "orphan eggs" (eggs sporadically laid outside nests) for use in captive breeding and reintroduction programmes (Barri et al. 2008a). Maintain "mallín" (meadow) habitats in adequate condition as nesting sites (Bellis et al. 2006, Barri et al. 2008b, Barri et al. 2009). Monitor remaining populations of tarapacensis and garleppi.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Rhea pennata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 June 2013.
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