Cryptic treehunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cryptic treehunter |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Cichlocolaptes
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| Species: |
mazarbarnetti
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The cryptic treehunter (Cichlocolaptes mazarbarnetti) is a special kind of bird. It belongs to the ovenbird family called Furnariidae. This bird is very rare, and some people even wonder if it truly existed as a separate species. It was only found in Brazil. Sadly, it is now thought to be extinct.
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Discovering the Cryptic Treehunter
This bird was first identified from a specimen collected in 1986. At first, scientists thought it was another bird, the Alagoas foliage-gleaner. But later, they looked closer at its body shape and features. They realized it was different enough to be its own species.
Scientists have only ever found two specimens of the cryptic treehunter. One was an adult female, and the other was a young female. This makes it very hard to study them.
Is it a Real Species?
Not all bird experts agree that the cryptic treehunter is a separate species.
- The IUCN (a group that tracks endangered species) says it is extinct.
- Other groups, like the International Ornithological Committee, accept it as a species. But they do not say it is extinct.
- Another group, the South American Classification Committee, is not sure. They say there is no clear agreement.
What Did It Look Like?
The two known cryptic treehunter specimens were about 20 to 22 centimeters (8 to 8.7 inches) long. The adult female weighed about 48 grams (1.7 ounces). The young bird weighed about 36 grams (1.3 ounces).
This bird had a strong, dagger-like beak. The adult female had a mostly pinkish-tan face with some dark streaks. Its head was black. Its back and rump were cinnamon-brown. Its tail was a pale orange-red color. Its wings were mostly brown with cream-colored edges. Its throat was pinkish-tan, and its belly was cinnamon. Its eyes were brown. Its beak was dark on top and lighter underneath. Its legs and feet were grayish-olive.
Where Did It Live?
The cryptic treehunter was only found in two places in northeastern Brazil. These places are the Murici Ecological Station in Alagoas and the RPPN Frei Caneca preserve in Pernambuco.
These areas have humid forests. They are on hilly land with many vines, bromeliads (plants that grow on trees), and mosses. The birds were seen living in the middle and lower parts of the forest canopy. These sites are about 500 to 600 meters (1,600 to 2,000 feet) above sea level.
How Did It Behave?
Scientists know very little about how the cryptic treehunter behaved. They think it might have acted similarly to its close relative, the pale-browed treehunter.
Its Song
Scientists recorded the cryptic treehunter's songs. One song was a fast, dry rattling sound. It had many notes, from 9 to 62. This rattle was followed by 4 to 8 loud, rough notes. These notes got a little faster before suddenly slowing down at the end. Another song had a longer rattle followed by one to three rough notes. When the bird heard recordings of its own calls, it would respond with a fast, short series of three dry notes. These notes would go up in pitch and then down.
Why Is It Extinct?
The IUCN first listed the cryptic treehunter as Critically Endangered in 2016. Then, in 2019, they declared it Extinct. A study in 2018 suggested it might have gone extinct even earlier. This is because no one has seen the bird since 2007, despite many searches.
The main reason for its disappearance is the huge loss of its home. The Atlantic Forest where it lived has been mostly cut down. The land was cleared for logging, cattle grazing, and growing sugar cane. Even the protected areas where the birds were found are under threat. People still do illegal logging and hunting there. The small pieces of forest that are left are drying out. This is because winds can now get into the forest, causing plants like epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) to disappear.
