Descrição, ecologia e conservação de um novo Scytalopus (Rhinocryptidae) do sul do Brasil, com comentários sobre a morfologia da família

It also differs from S. speluncae of any age and sex in the broader rectrices; in a longer and narrower sternum-, in the medial metasternum being narrower on average; in five characteristics of the syrinx morphology; and in its song, which also consists of the prolonged repetition of a short note of large amplitude,although the fundamental song possesses a lower interval of frequency modulation. The partially ossified nasal septum (septum nasale osseum), and the alert call apparently also differentiate the new species from S. speluncae.

The coloration and the song distinguish S. iraiensis sp. nov. from all other congeners,including several Andean forms with predominantly dark coloration (e.g. S. magellanicus fuscus, S. unicolor latrans, S. macropus). Based upon the song and the morphology of the syrinx, the new species is being considered close to S. speluncae and distinct from S. indigoticus, characterizing a polyphyletic group. Scytalopus iraiensis sp. nov. inhabits humid fields along rivers (wetlands) where the vegetation is high (ca. 60-180 cm) and forms dense thickets of thin grass leaves and sedges, shading the ground.

Its movements mainly occur over bare soil, but also along leaves and shrub branches. It inhabits the same areas as do several field and marsh birds (e.g. Porzana albicollis, Laterallus leucopyrrhus, Eleothreptus anomalus, Emberizoides ypiranganus). Il was encountered in three areas: in one it is abundant and in the others it seems to be rare.

The first area will be inundated in 1998 and the others are partially being covered with earth.The environment of S. iraiensis sp. nov. is characteristic of some riverheads in eastern Paraná Slate and northern Santa Catarina State. This habitat is heavily impacted due to the extraction of sand from the subsoil, housing developments, draining, creation of pastures, burning, etc. Urgent action toward the protection of this new species is proposed.