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Tinamou

Tinamou
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Tinamiformes
Family:Tinamidae
Genera


Tinamus

Nothocercus

Crypturellus

Rhynchotus

Nothoprocta

Nothura

Taoniscus

Eudromia

Tinamotis

The Tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird, members of a South American bird family of about 46 species in 9 genera. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family Tinamidae within their own order, the Tinamiformes.

Of ultimately Gondwanan origin, they are distantly related to the ratites, the order Struthioniiformes that includes the Rhea, Emu, and Kiwi. Although the fossil record in South America is generally poor (or perhaps largely undiscovered as yet), the known tinamou fossil record goes back 10 million years.

Together with the ratites, they make up the Paleognathae, or “Old Jaws”, as distinct from the vast majority of modern birds in the Neognathae , or “New Jaws”.

There are 46 species of tinamou in South America and north to Mexico, occurring in a wide range of habitats. They eat a variety of food including insects and berries.

Tinamou are rarely seen. Most inhabit the tropical lowlands of South America, typically in dark, dense forest, but some species range as far north as Mexico and occur in a wide range of habitats. They eat a variety of food including insects and berries.

Although some species are quite common, they are very secretive. A small number of species live in more open, grassy country, but even these are wary. Tinamous lay several eggs which are attractively coloured and have a hard gloss like porcelain. The young are precocial, and can run almost as soon as they hatch.

Species are: