To: NEOORN-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [NEOORN-L] Missing Neotropical Species
Dear all,
The good news about the rediscovery of Celeus obrieni reminded me that several Neoorners had provided information a few months back for an article about "lost" Neotropical bird species. This article gives background details for the last 20 missing birds (now 19!) and other poorly known taxa. It has a few interesting photographs too.
For anyone without access to it, it can be downloaded from a link on [this page].
Joseph Tobias
Research Associate
Department of Zoology
University of Oxford
South Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3PS
United Kingdom
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6 comments:
Since some if not most readers of this blog feel strongly that spending time and money in search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is an utter waste of time, what criteria should one use to draw the line between those neotropical species which are worthwhile to search for and those which are a waste of time and money to search for?
...what criteria should one use to draw the line between those neotropical species which are worthwhile to search for
I would start with those that are not extinct. How about that?
"I would start with those that are not extinct. How about that?"
So what criteria would you use to determine which of these lost species is extinct and which is not? The 50-year rule obviously did not work well with Celeus obrieni which, incidentally, was not rediscovered those who specifically searched for it.
If money is left over after protecting Celeus obrieni Woodpecker habitat, searches for Magdalena Tinamou, Carrizal Seedeater, Cayenne Nightjar, and Blue-eyed Ground-dove would be definitely worthwhile, as rediscovery of these seems most probable. Thorough surveys of all birds and all other animals on Guadeloupe Island are also clearly worthwhile.
I would not waste time and money looking for the Eskimo Curlew or Bachman's Warbler in the Neotropics. If these species still existed they would be seen in the USA. Nor would I fund searches for the Imperial Woodpecker as its persistence seems quite unlikely.
So what criteria would you use to determine which of these lost species is extinct and which is not?
That's easy. If it's extinct like the IBWO, then I would not spend money on it.
"The 50-year rule obviously did not work well with Celeus obrieni"
C. obrieni was only known from one specimen and was of uncertain taxonomic status. The 50-year rule is intended to apply to formerly well-known species like the IBWO, not to nomina dubia, species with uncertain type localities, and those for which reliable identification criteria were not established.
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