FIGURES 9. From left to right in each figure (all males): paratype of Scytalopus iraiensis; holotype of S. notorius, new species; topotype of S. speluncae; and holotype of S. novacapitalis; dorsal view.
Abstract
Scytalopus speluncae was described from a specimen taken at São João del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ménétriés described it as having the throat and the central breast evidently whitish, but since then this name has been rather surprisingly attributed to the uniformly slate gray Mouse-colored Tapaculo of the eastern coastal Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Contrary to previous findings, our analysis of the holotype, two new specimens from the type locality (topotypes) and original description of Scytalopus speluncae indicates that this name must be applied to the pale gray form with rufous-barred thighs that is found in Minas Gerais. This species is apparently very common in São João del Rei. This paper redescribes Scytalopus speluncae, correcting this name application, and describing, as a new species, populations from the Serra do Mar and vicinity, previously misidentified as S. speluncae.
Key words: Scytalopus speluncae, new species, Brazil, taxonomy
Map showing the distribution of the Scytalopus speluncae species-group
Raposo, M. A., R. Stopiglia, V. Loskot and G. M. Kirwan. 2006. The correct use of the name Scytalopus speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835), and the description of a new species of Brazilian tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae). Zootaxa. 1271: 37-56.
