Panao antpitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Panao antpitta |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grallaria
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| Species: |
oneilli
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The Panao antpitta (Grallaria oneilli) is a special kind of bird. It belongs to the family called Grallariidae. This bird lives only in Peru, which means it is endemic there.
The Panao antpitta is part of a group of similar birds known as the rufous antpitta species complex. Scientists R. Terry Chesser and Morton L. Isler officially described this bird in 2020.
About the Panao Antpitta
Scientists identified the Panao antpitta as a new species because of its unique features. These include its plumage (the color and pattern of its feathers), its vocalizations (the sounds it makes), and its genetics (its DNA).
The Panao antpitta is very closely related to two other birds. These are the Chachapoyas antpitta and the Junín antpitta. Scientists call them a "sister group" because they share a recent common ancestor.
Before 2020, people thought the Panao antpitta was just a part of another bird group. This group was called G. rufula obscura. Now, that group is known as the Junín antpitta, G. obscura.
The Panao antpitta's scientific name, oneilli, honors a special person. It is named after Dr. John P. O'Neill. He was an ornithologist, which is a scientist who studies birds. Dr. O'Neill found the first example of this bird in Huánuco, Peru, in 1983. This first example is called the type specimen.
Where the Panao Antpitta Lives
The Panao antpitta lives only in Peru. You can find it on the eastern side of the Peruvian Andes mountains. Specifically, it lives in the areas known as the Huánuco and Pasco departments.
These birds prefer to live in wet mountain forests. They usually stay close to the ground. You can often find them in the understory, which is the layer of plants and trees below the main canopy. They also spend time on the forest floor.
Natural features help keep the Panao antpitta separate from its relatives. The Huallaga River is to the north. It separates the Panao antpitta from the Chachapoyas antpitta. To the south, the Perené and Paucartambo rivers separate it from the Junín antpitta.
