Tacarcuna Tapaculo
VU

Tacarcuna Tapaculo

Scytalopus panamensis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacarcuna_tapaculo

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Tacarcuna Tapaculo faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its extremely limited range in the Darién mountains of Panama and Colombia. Mining activities and agricultural expansion are rapidly degrading the pristine cloud forest habitats this species requires. Its restricted distribution to high-elevation forests makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Tacarcuna Tapaculo inhabits dense, humid cloud forests and elfin woodlands at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters in the Darién mountains. It requires thick understory vegetation with abundant moss and epiphytes, typically found in pristine montane forests along the Panama-Colombia border.

Other threatened species in Rhinocryptidae

Paramillo TapaculoEN

Paramillo Tapaculo

Scytalopus canus

Unknown
Scytalopus chocoensisEN

Scytalopus chocoensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Tacarcuna Tapaculo classified as Vulnerable?
Tacarcuna Tapaculo is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Tacarcuna Tapaculo faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its extremely limited range in the Darién mountains of Panama and Colombia. Mining activities and agricultural expansion are rapidly degrading the pristine cloud forest habitats this species requires. Its restricted distribution to high-elevation forests makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat.
Where does Tacarcuna Tapaculo live?
Tacarcuna Tapaculo occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Tacarcuna Tapaculo?
The main threats to Tacarcuna Tapaculo are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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