Nothurinae

Nothurinae Temporal range: Mid-Miocene to present
Rhynchotus rufescens
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Infraclass:	Palaeognathae
Order:	Tinamiformes
Family:	Tinamidae
Subfamily:	Nothurinae
Genera
Rhynchotus Nothoprocta Nothura Taoniscus Eudromia Tinamotis
Synonyms
Rhynchotinae von Boetticher, 1934 Tinamotidinae Salvadori, 1895 Eudrominae von Boetticher, 1934

Nothurinae or aridland tinamous is one of two subfamilies of the Tinamidae family, the other being Tinaminae. It contains eighteen species in six genera. The six genera are:

• Rhynchotus (2 species)
• Nothoprocta (6 species)
• Nothura (5 species)
• Taoniscus (monotypic) - dwarf tinamou
• Eudromia (2 species)
• Tinamotis (2 species)

Description

These birds, as a member of the tinamou, are ground birds that prefer to run and walk, but will fly when needed.

Taxonomy

They are related to the ratites (emus, ostriches, kiwis, and rheas), and are placed with them in the Paleognathae. All of these birds evolved from ancient birds that did fly and tinamous are believed to be a still living primitive family closely related to these ancient birds.

Behavior

Tinamous eat leaves, buds, small fruits and seeds, and will eats insects for variety.

Range and habitat

The members of this subfamily live in South America and prefer hills and arid grasslands and scrublands as opposed to the Tinaminae, which prefer forests.

References

• Brown, Joseph W. (2005). "Tinamiformes, Tinamidae, tinamous". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 16 Jul 2009.
• Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003). "Tinamous (Tinamidae)". In Hutchins, Michael; Jackson, Jerome A.; Bock, Walter J.; Olendorf, Donna (eds.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Vol. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins. Joseph E. Trumpey, Chief Scientific Illustrator (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 57–67. ISBN 0-7876-5784-0.