A New Species of Wren (Troglodytidae: Thryophilus) from the Dry Cauca River Canyon, Northwestern Colombia

We describe a new species of wren in the genus Thryophilus (Troglodytidae) based on analysis of morphological, vocal, and genetic variation. Individuals of the new species are readily separated in the field or the museum from those of any other wren species, including its closest relatives T. rufalb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Auk 2012-07, Vol.129 (3), p.537-550
Main Authors: Lara, Carlos Esteban, Cuervo, Andrés M, Valderrama, Sandra V, Calderón-F, Diego, Cadena, Carlos Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal vocalization
Antioquia
Biological taxonomies
Body size
Canyons
color
Colors
Dry forests
duet
Freshwater
Genetic diversity
genetic variation
Habitat conservation
habitats
inter-Andean valley
Museums
New species
Niceforo's Wren
Phylogenetics
Plumage
rain forests
Rainforests
Research s
Rivers
Rufous-and-white Wren
shrublands
Studies
Syllables
Systematics
tail
Taxa
Threatened species
Thryothorus
Troglodytidae
tropical dry forest
wings
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Description
Summary:We describe a new species of wren in the genus Thryophilus (Troglodytidae) based on analysis of morphological, vocal, and genetic variation. Individuals of the new species are readily separated in the field or the museum from those of any other wren species, including its closest relatives T. rufalbus and T. nicefori, by a combination of traits including, but not limited to, plumage coloration of the upperparts, the pattern of barring on the wings and tail, overall smaller body size, a richer repertoire of syllable types, shorter trills, and distinctive terminal syllables. The new species is allopatrically distributed in relation to its congeners, being restricted to the dry Cauca River Canyon, a narrow inter-Andean valley enclosed by the Nechí Refuge rainforests and the northern sectors of the Western and Central Andes of Colombia. Individuals or pairs have been found only in remnant patches of dry forest and scrub at 250– 850 m elevation. This newly discovered species is uncommon and threatened because of ongoing transformation of natural habitats in the Cauca River Canyon, and especially because of the planned construction of a major dam in the region; immediate conservation actions are thus imperative.
ISSN:0004-8038
1938-4254
1938-4254
2732-4613
DOI:10.1525/auk.2012.12028