Scytalopus speluncae Ménétriés, 1835

Raposo, Marcos A., Stopiglia, Renata, Loskot, Vladimir & Kirwan, Guy M., 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, pp. 37-56 : 40-44

Restriction of Scytalopus speluncae Ménétriés, 1835

Type locality. Despite Vielliard's (1990) assertion of absence, this species is apparently very common at the type locality of São João del Rei. Two topotypes were collected in two degraded woodlots that agree quite well with Ménétriés’s description of the area in which the type was collected (“courant à terre et voltigeant sur les petits buissons, à l’entrée d’une grotte calcaire près de St. João del Rey, Minas Gerais”).

énétriés’s diary notes are also in perfect accordance with those of the leader Langsdorff (Mikulinskii 1995), who places the expedition at Barbacena, Minas Gerais, from 1 – 4 June, when, on 5 June, it was decided to proceed to São João do Rei. On 6 June he remarked that “We have passed by Fazenda Barroso near the brook Ribeyran, .. reached the River Ribeyran­du­kayeyra [?] which falls into the River Mortis [Rio das Mortes]…., and then reached the fazenda of Lorenso Pintu” (p.33); on 7 June Langsdorff left “Invernadu” for São João del Rei, noting that "In Barba ena, we have received information about a very remarkable grotto situated in the environs of São João del Rey or possibly beside the River Elvas.... I supposed that, as we agreed, I shall meet there my traveling companions at 12; …. I galloped forward through the Invernadu [valley]…. At 10.30 I stopped ... and heard that my companions [including énétriés] spent the night there and went to the grotto" (p.34). "I arrived there at 12 and found there Ridel, énétriés and Rugendas. We left the grotto at about 3 p. m. and arrived at the town of São João del Rey at about 5 p. m.…." (p. 35). It is obvious from these remarks, which we have translated from the Russian, that éntriés was collecting very close to São João del Rei and was within two hours ride of this town. The new topotypes were collected in gallery forest of the Rio das Mortes, which river is also referred to by Langsdorff, and is very close to São João del Rei.

Maurício (2005) dismissed São João del Rei as the type locality of Scytalopus speluncae because of historical “problems surrounding the origins of Ménétriés’ types ”, reflecting the conclusions of Pacheco (2004), who showed several of Ménétriés’ type localities to be improbable.

In the present instance, however, there would appear to be no grounds for altering

énétriés clear designation, which has been substantiated by the modern collection of specimens agreeing with the holotype near the type­locality.

The holotype of Scytalopus speluncae . énétriés (1835: 527) made no mention of the rufous and black stripes on the tips of the rump and flank feathers in the original description of S. speluncae , nor were they illustrated (pl. 13, fig. 1). It seems likely that these parts were already damaged either in the collection or preparation so that énétriés would not have been aware of such features, in 1835, some ten years after the specimen was collected. That vestiges of these characters still remain on the holotype makes their omission from the plate and type description less important.

The holotype of S. speluncae is an adult male, as indicated by the plain upper wing coverts, which lack black markings ( Figs. 2 – 3 ). Unfortunately, the belly feathers are severely damaged, and almost all of the vent and thigh feathers are in such poor condition that it is almost impossible to discern their original color, except that of the blackish base (ground) color to these tracts ( Fig. 4 ). However, this is not the case with the rump feathers, which are buff with dark bars ( Fig. 5 ). A careful analysis of the holotype by VL further revealed some tiny remnants of buff color on one feather on the left thigh, and on three feathers on the right flank.

The type description is also very important in establishing the original color of the holotype. The author states that the throat and the middle of the breast of his Scytalopus speluncae are whitish (see Introduction), a description that could never be applied to the Blackish Neutral Gray (82–83) Scytalopus from the Serra do Mar. The plate that accompanied the type description ( Fig. 6 ) also shows considerable whitish on the ventral surface, despite not showing the buff feathers found on the flanks and rump and, evidently more sparsely, on the thighs of the holotype. In sum, the type description points to a graycolored bird, with a partially whitish venter, and close examination of the holotype shows that it also has rufous­barred rump feathers, and at least some buff on the thighs and vent. The topotypes are also pale gray with a whitish belly and buff­barred vent, thighs, and rump ( Figs. 7 – 9 ).

Maurício (2005) stated, based on the original plate, that Ménétriés (1835) must have described an “unbarred, adult bird”. He also considered that Chrostowski (1921), who was one of the few persons prior to ourselves to have directly analysed the holotype, had erred in describing the presence of rufous fringes to the rump feathers, as this supposedly could not be corroborated by either the original description or by the photographs of the holotype then available (which are of very poor quality; pers. obs. all authors). Now, however, we can state with assurance that Chrostowski was correct in his assertion regarding the holotype’s features.

It is evident that current application of the name Scytalopus speluncae to the dark gray specimens from the Serra do Mar is erroneous and the name must be used instead for the populations of the Espinhaço range. Surprisingly, we have been unable to locate any other applicable name for the well­known Serra do Mar species. Therefore we propose a name to this species here and redescribe S. speluncae , which name hereafter we use solely for the Espinhaço population.

Figures

FIGURE 6. The original plate of Scytalopus speluncae (Ménétriés 1835, pl. 13, fig. 1).

FIGURES 2 – 5. Holotype of Scytalopus speluncae (ZISP 145251): 2, dorsal view; 3, lateral view; 4, ventral view; 5, uropygium showing buff­barred black feathers.

FIGURES 7 – 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; 7, ventral view; 8, lateral view; 9, dorsal view.