| Seedsnipe | |
|---|---|
_-_Papallacta_-_Ecuador.jpg) | |
| Rufous-bellied seedsnipe | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder: | Scolopaci |
| Family: | Thinocoridae Gray, 1845 |
| Genera | |
Theseedsnipes are a smallfamily,Thinocoridae, of small gregariouswaders which have adapted to aherbivorous diet. The family is divided into twogenera,Attagis andThinocorus, each containing two species. The family has aSouth American distribution, in theAndean andPatagonian regions. The relationships with other families within the orderCharadriiformes are uncertain; it has been suggested that theplains wanderer ofAustralia, thejacanas and thepainted snipes are their closest relatives.[1] The plains wanderer in particular has a similar feeding ecology, although differs markedly in breeding biology. The family's common name is misleading, as they do not resemble truesnipe, having shortbills on small heads, and seeds do not form a major part of the diet.[2] One speciesThinocorus rumicivorus is however known to feed on the fleshy flower petal appendages ofCalceolaria uniflora, a species of Scrophularaceae. In the process of feeding on these sugar rich appendages, they also pollinate the flowers.[3]
They resemblegrouse,quail andsandgrouse, only with long wings.[2] The seedsnipes in the genusThinocorus are smaller, ranging in size from asparrow to a snipe, whereas the genusAttagis are larger, the size of aptarmigan. They have short legs (but long toes) and tails. The colour of theirplumage is generallycryptic. There is somesexual dimorphism in theplumage of theThinocorus species, the males have grey faces, necks and breasts.
Seedsnipes inhabit a variety of harsh environments, includinggrasslands, grasssteppes, semi-ariddeserts and alpinehabitats. Therufous-bellied seedsnipe ranges as far up as to the snowline (5500 m).
Their 2–3eggs are laid in a shallow scrape on the ground.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Attagis(Saint-Hilaire and Lesson, 1831) |
|
 | ThinocorusEschscholtz, 1829 |
|