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| Tinamus resonans Morais, Crozariol, Godoy, Plácido & Raposo, 2025 Slaty-masked Tinamou | Sururina-da-serra || DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5725.2.6 |
Abstract
We describe Tinamus resonans sp. nov., a new species of tinamou from the montane forests of the Serra do Divisor, western Amazonia, Brazil. The species is distinguished by a unique combination of plumage pattern, vocal repertoire, and ecological characteristics, including a conspicuous dark slate facial mask, vivid rufous-cinnamon underparts, and a uniform brownish-gray back. Its vocalizations are remarkable, consisting of long and powerful songs that echo strikingly across the steep montane slopes, producing a characteristic resonant effect. The species was documented exclusively at higher elevations within a transitional zone between submontane and stunted forests, where the understory is densely structured by root mats. A preliminary population estimate, based on field detections and spatial extrapolation, suggests approximately 2,106 individuals restricted to the Serra do Divisor massif. Although no immediate anthropogenic pressures were observed within its range, the species may be highly vulnerable to climate change and to proposed infrastructure projects that threaten the integrity of this federally protected region. The discovery of T. resonans highlights the biological uniqueness of the Serra do Divisor, reinforces its status as a center of montane endemism, and underscores the critical importance of maintaining its long-term conservation.
Aves, Amazon rainforest, endemic species, extinction, Tinamidae, Serra do Divisor National Park, Acre
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| Tinamus resonans sp. nov. at Morro Queimado, Serra do Divisor National Park, Mâncio Lima, Acre, Brazil, photos by Luis A. Morais. |
Tinamus resonans sp. nov.
Proposed Portuguese name: Sururina-da-serra
Proposed English name: Slaty-masked Tinamou
Diagnosis: This species differs from all other Tinamidae by presenting, at least in females (the three individuals whose sex could be determined were female), a distinctive dark slate-colored crown, which extends into a prominent stripe down the hindneck and into the post-ocular region, forming a conspicuous facial mask (Fig. 1 and 2). The ferruginous coloration of the breast places it near the T. variegatus/brevirostris group, from which it is readily distinguished by its uniform brownish-gray dorsum lacking any barring, a condition otherwise shared only with T. soui. It can be further separated from T. soui by its ferruginous breast, neck, and cheeks and the presence of white on the lower belly. Its vocalization is unique and therefore diagnostic among the vocalizations attributed to other Tinamidae. As described below, it is distinguished by its overall structure and note modulation.
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| Holotype of Tinamus resonans sp. nov. (MN 53848). Ventral view (A), lateral view (B), dorsal view (C), flanks (D), dorsal surface of the wing (E), ventral surface of the wing (F). |
Etymology: From Latin, resonans is the present participle of the verb resonare (“to resound,” “to echo”), used here in its adjectival sense meaning “resounding” or “echoing.” The verb is composed of the prefix re- (“again” or “back”) and the root sonare (“to sound”), which derives from the noun sonus (“sound”). The name refers to the striking echoing effect of the species’ song, which reverberates across the steep montane slopes of its habitat as a result of strong acoustic diffusion.
The common name “sururina” is an onomatopoeic term used by local riverine people to refer to ground-dwelling tinamous with modulated songs and is commonly applied to several species in the region, including Tinamus soui and T. variegatus. The addition of “-da-serra” (“from the mountains”) highlights the distinct identity and montane habitat of this species, setting it apart from other sympatric taxa.
Luis A. MORAIS, Marco A. CROZARIOL, Fernando I. GODOY, Ricardo A. A. PLÁCIDO and Marcos A. RAPOSO. 2025. A New Species of Tinamus (Aves: Tinamiformes) from the western Amazon, Brazil. Zootaxa. 5725(2); 279-291. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5725.2.6 [2025-12-02]
