8 December 2021.
Introduction:
In South America, a New Species of Bird named Flatbill flycatchers have been discovered.
Highlights:
- Flatbill flycatcher are members of genus Rhynchocyclusin exclusively New World family Tyrannidae.
- Four known species in this genus are distributed across southern Mexico to north-eastern Bolivia, Brazil and eastern Venezuela.
Four Species of Genus Rhynchocyclus
- Genus Rhynchocyclus currently comprises of four species:
- Olivaceous flatbill (Rhynchocyclus olivaceus),
- Eye-ringed flatbill (Rhynchocyclus brevirostris),
- Pacific flatbill (Rhynchocyclus pacificus)and
- Fulvous-breasted flatbill (Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus).
- Two of these species, Rhynchocyclus pacificus & Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus are monotypic, while other two are polytypic.
Subspecies of Rhynchocyclus olivaceus
- There are nine sub-species of Rhynchocyclus olivaceus.
- All the subspecies are very similar to each other.
- They have a remarkable constancy in morphometric characters and plumage colour patterns.
- It evidences their cryptic nature. All the species are large-headed and flat-billed.
About Cryptic flatbill
- The newly discovered species has been named as cryptic flatbill (Rhynchocyclus cryptus) after its remarkable morphological cryptic nature, it strongly contrasts with its high levels of vocal and genetic differentiation.
- The species prefers seasonally flooded floodplain forests (varzea), including degraded patches near to human settlements.
- It can be found towards south of the Amazon River, banks of Madeira River in Amazonas & Acre in Brazil, west of Maranon River in Peru, and south to north or central Bolivia in the Mamore.
Threats for Rhynchocyclus cryptus
The main threats for the species are:
- Deforestation due to rapid progress of livestock farms
- Monocultures and implementation of large hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River. It affects the flow of sediments.