Nothurinae Temporal range: Miocene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N 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 [1]
Rhynchotinae von Boetticher, 1934 Tinamotidinae Salvadori, 1895 Eudrominae von Boetticher, 1934

Nothurinae or aridland tinamous ^[2] 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. ^[3]

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. ^[3]

Behavior

Tinamous eat leaves, buds, small fruits and seeds, and will eats insects for variety. ^[3]

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. ^[2]

Footnotes

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.