Justification This species has a very small and severely fragmented range and population. The severity of ongoing threats indicate that both range and population are declining rapidly and it has already been extirpated from the type-locality. Unless action is taken immediately further subpopulations will become extinct. It is therefore listed as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Rhinocryptidae

Species name author Bornschein, Reinert & Pichorim, 1998

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates)

Identification 12.5 cm. Plain, blackish tapaculo. Mainly blackish above with dark ashy underparts. Very faint barring on belly, possibly only in subadult birds. Rather large tail. Similar spp. Mouse-coloured Tapaculo S. speluncae is more concolourous. Voice Song is long series of tchek notes introduced by longer, more modulated notes. Calls pic-pic in alarm.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

490 km²

Yes

Range & population Scytalopus iraiensis was discovered in 1997, and is still only known from a very small area in Paraná, south Brazil. Surveys have located the species in 24 patches of habitat, but these are all very small (varying in size from 1-350 ha) and highly fragmented. It was considered common at the type-locality (but has since been extirpated) and rare to uncommon at the other sites. Given ongoing threats, the population is likely to be declining rapidly.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It occurs in tall, dense grasslands (60-180 cm tall) in the alluvial plains of watercourses, generally flanked by gallery forest. These grasslands are seasonally inundated and dominated by Eleocharis sp. and several other Cyperaceae and Poaceae. The species inhabits the dense vegetation nearest to the ground, and climbs up and down stems and bushes. Stomach contents included small arthropods and insects. It breeds during the late austral spring and possibly also in the summer.

Threats The Iraí dam has already flooded the type-locality, and urbanisation, industrial development and road-building affect other sites in this vicinity. There is a proposal to construct three further dams to cope with the water demands of Curitiba. The grasslands of the region are being systematically drained owing to canalisation schemes for improved agricultural land and pasture. Subsurface sand extraction and the planting of Eucalyptus trees have altered the landscape and vegetation in several areas. The use of widespread burning is common practice on these lands, which changes the floral composition and promotes the spread of invasive species.

Conservation measures underway There were two legal interventions regarding the Iraí dam. First, to postpone plans for the dam and counter irregularities in the environmental impact assessment and, second (following the discovery of this species), to abandon the construction of the dam or create a conservation unit. However, neither intervention was successful, the dam has been constructed and no conservation unit has yet been created.

Conservation measures proposed Abandon the planned construction of dams that would flood areas where this species occurs. Cease drainage, fires and all sand extraction operations in such areas. Create conservation units to protect the species. Survey similar habitat in areas of south Paraná and north-east Santa Catarina. Conduct detailed studies of the species's ecology.

References Bornschein et al. (1998). Bornschein et al. (2001). M. R. Bornschein, B. L. Reinert and D. Pioli in litt. (2000).

Text account compilers Rob Pople (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors M.R Bornschein, D Pioli, B.L Reinert

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Scytalopus iraiensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums