Aglaiocercus berlepschi

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	APODIFORMES	TROCHILIDAE

Scientific Name:

Aglaiocercus berlepschi

Species Authority:

(E. Hartert, 1898)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Venezuelan Sylph

Taxonomic Notes:

Aglaiocercus kingi (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into A. kingi and A. berlepschi following SACC (2005).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Boesman, P., Pérez-Emán, J. & Sharpe, C J

Justification:
This species has a very small known range, within which suitable habitat is thought to be severely fragmented. For these reasons it is currently classified as Endangered. However, if further evidence reveals it has a larger range or that habitat fragmentation is not a serious concern then it may warrant downlisting.

History:

2008	–	Endangered
2007	–	Endangered
2006	–	Not Evaluated
2004	–	Not Recognized
2000	–	Not Recognized
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Aglaiocercus berlepschi occupies a restricted range in north-east Venezuela in the Turimiquire Massif (both in the Serranía de Turimiquire the west of the San Antonio valley and the Cordillera de Caripe to the east) on the borders of Sucre, Anzoategui and Monagas. It was formerly common in parts of its range (Hilty 2003, Sharpe and Lentino 2008) is locally fairly common in places (P. Boesman in litt. 2006, Sharpe and Lentino 2008, C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2011). Extent of Occurrence has been estimated at 3,000 km² (Sharpe and Lentino 2008) and 4,200 km² (BirdLife International).
Countries:	Native: Venezuela
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is locally fairly common in suitable habitat, and considered less vulnerable than others (such as Grey-headed Warbler Basileuterus griseiceps) to removal of undergrowth for coffee plantations (Boesman in litt. 2006). Its population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 individuals, equating to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, which is rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It lives in humid to wet subtropical montane forest, borders and second growth from 1,450 m to 1,800 m (Hilty 2003, Sharpe and Lentino 2008). The species is thought to be less susceptible to removal of undergrowth from forest for coffee growing than other species (P. Boesman in litt. 2006).However, its specific habitat requirements are almost unknown (J. Pérez-Emán in litt. 2012).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There has been widespread clearance for agriculture and pasture in the Cordillera de Caripe, resulting in extensive degradation of forest. Clearance, repeated burning and understorey removal for coffee (Boesman and Curson 1995) are the main causes. The slopes of Cerro Negro are largely bare, with the more obvious forest patches actually shade-coffee plantations (Boesman and Curson 1995). There is conversion to coffee, mango, banana and citrus plantations in many parts of the region (Colvee 1999), but extensive forest areas remain (Colvee 1999, Sharpe in litt. 2011). Increases in cash-crop agriculture, especially the cultivation of "ocumo blanco" (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), since the mid- to late 1980s, have resulted in uncontrolled burning and forest degradation (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2003). Similar threats are present in the Macizo Montañoso del Turimiquire (J. Pérez-Emán in litt. 2012). It is considered nationally Endangered in Venezuela (Sharpe 2008).

Major Threat(s):

There has been widespread clearance for agriculture and pasture in the Cordillera de Caripe, resulting in extensive degradation of forest. Clearance, repeated burning and understorey removal for coffee (Boesman and Curson 1995) are the main causes. The slopes of Cerro Negro are largely bare, with the more obvious forest patches actually shade-coffee plantations (Boesman and Curson 1995). There is conversion to coffee, mango, banana and citrus plantations in many parts of the region (Colvee 1999), but extensive forest areas remain (Colvee 1999, Sharpe in litt. 2011). Increases in cash-crop agriculture, especially the cultivation of "ocumo blanco" (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), since the mid- to late 1980s, have resulted in uncontrolled burning and forest degradation (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2003). Similar threats are present in the Macizo Montañoso del Turimiquire (J. Pérez-Emán in litt. 2012). It is considered nationally Endangered in Venezuela (Sharpe 2008).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Conservation Actions Proposed Determine whether the species occurs on the Peninsula de Paria. Conserve remaining habitat within its restricted range. Research trends, population size and threats.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine whether the species occurs on the Peninsula de Paria. Conserve remaining habitat within its restricted range. Research trends, population size and threats.

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