Good to see the uptake of a more sustainable taxonomical approach
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-10/ci-nbd100506.php
Public release date: 5-Oct-2006
Contact: Julian Teixeira
Conservation International
New bird discovered on unexplored Columbian mountain
Discovery made possible through BP Conservation Program project
Bogota, Colombia, (October 6, 2006) -- A new bird to science was
recently discovered on an unexplored mountain range in northern
Colombia by a team supported by the BP Conservation Programme. It was
named "Yariguies Brush-Finch," with the scientific name Atlapetes
latinuchus yariguierum.
The new brush-finch was described by an Anglo-Colombian team of
biologists including Thomas Donegan (Fundación ProAves) and Blanca
Huertas (Natural History Museum and University College London),
following their leadership of the first biological exploration of the
Yariguíes mountains. The description was published in the June issue of
the scientific journal Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club
(Vol. 126: June 2006).
The new bird is named for the Yariguies indigenous people who formerly
inhabited the mountain range where the bird was found. A large and
colorful finch with black, yellow and red plumage, the new species
differs from its closest relatives in having a black back and no white
markings on its wings. It also is found in other nearby mountains in
Colombia's eastern Andean range. Genetic, morphological and vocal
studies have confirmed its identity as a new taxon.
"Before we began this study, no one knew what species lived in the
Yariguíes Mountains and whether they needed protecting," said Thomas
Donegan. "Now, we are beginning to describe new taxa and a national
park was established in the region. It is surprising that this new
brush-finch and the forests of the Yariguíes Mountains could remain
unstudied, undescribed and unprotected for so long."
This description is noteworthy in that one of the two birds caught by
the team and used in the description as a type specimen was released
unharmed, a DNA sample and photographs having been taken. This is the
first time that a live specimen has been used for the description of a
new bird following the approval by the International Commission of
Zoological Nomenclature of such techniques last year.
With biological justification resulting from this research and
following other initiatives, Serranía de los Yariguíes was declared a
national park last year by the Colombian government and a large forest
nature reserve was recently established in the region by Fundación
ProAves, Colombia's bird conservation NGO.
"The description of a new bird is a rare event in modern times," said
Blanca Huertas. "However, this is just the first of several new species
that we will be describing from the Yariguíes Mountains. In my own
specialist group, butterflies, we have found several new taxa that will
be described soon."
The new bird discovered was funded due to an on-going commitment to the
environment from BP, whom supports the BP Conservation Programme
Awards. This year, the programme awarded 27 winning teams from 21
different countries with support totalling $475,000.
The awards support the vital work of a new rising generation of
conservation professionals and drive practical research projects
addressing a wide range of global environmental issues.
This year, 19 teams were awarded "Future Conservationist Awards" and
eight awards were granted to teams to continue and further their
projects that previously were awarded funding from the BP Conservation
Programme. Three teams received "Conservation Leadership Awards" and
five teams received "Conservation Follow-up Awards."
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