SOUTH AMERICAN UNBRAZILIAN ANGIOSPERMS: SYNDROMES

In this post, we will discuss the mold/ecological syndromes of angiosperms in South America, exclusively focusing on forms absent in Brazil, along with a note on the most diverse morphologically genera on the continent.

CLOSEST POINTS TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF 10 GENERA ABSENTS IN BRAZIL

ANGIOSPERMS SYNDROMES IN UNBRAZILIAN SOUTH AMERICAN PLANTS

In addition to some exceptions already mentioned above for certain genera or species that have a certain singularity in their genus or family, it is worth mentioning several important cases involving South America plants absents in Brazil. 

       

1. plant mimicry is something neglected in the literature, but it is worth mentioning Macrocentrum droseroides Triana from Venezuela and Guyana, a Drosera-like species of Melastomataceae (SEE). 

 

2. vivipary in Melastomataceae is reported in 4 genera worldwide; in New World only two species does not occur in Brazil, Macrocentrum minus Gleason and M. vestitum Sandwith, from Venezuela to French Guiana.

 

3. all DT's in New World occur in Brazil except members of Barbaceniopsis, V. andina Ibisch, R.Vásquez & Nowicki endemic to Bolivia, Sporobolus atrovirens (Kunth) Kunth endemic to Mexico, Microchloa kunthii Desv. from Africa, tropical Asia and from U.S.A. to Argentina, Clinopodium giliesii (Benth.) Kuntze, endemic to Chile; and Blossfeldia liliputana Werderm., S Bolivia and N Argentina. 

4. fungi symbiotics, in the Neotropics, several unrelated plant genera have independently evolved the ability to form ECM symbioses with fungi; brazilian absents includes Pakaraimaea Maguire & Ashton (Cistaceae), Pseudomonotes tropenbosii A.C.Londoño, E.Alvarez & Forero (Dipterocarpaceae), and Quercus L. (Fagaceae).

5. among geocarpy in New World, all species occur in Brazil except members of Okenia (Nyctaginaceae) and Amphicarpus (Poaceae) from North America, and 14 spp. of Arachis in South America. 

6. all lineages of mymercophyts plants in South America reaches in Brazil except Myrmecophila, Alexia, Besleria, Myrcia, Hoffmania, Allomaieta, and Blakea. 

 

7. colored nectar occur documented in 70 spp. of angiosperms; in South America absent in Brazil includes Puya alpestris (Poepp.) Gay (Bromeliaceae), endemic to central Chile, with blue nectar; and Solanaceae C. pubescens Ruiz & Pav. from Ecuador to Bolivia, C. eximium Hunz. from Bolivia to Argentina (these three with yellow nectar), and in 9 spp. and 4 morphospecies of Jaltomata Schltdl. from Peru, one of them up to Bolivia (Dennis M. Hansen, Biol. Rev. Camb. Philos. Soc., 2007), all with red-to-orange nectars. 

 

8. all rubiaceous genera with pterophyllous calycophylls in South American Rubiaceae occur in Brazil except Cruckshanksia Hook. & Arn. (7, from Argentina and Chile) and Pteridocalyx (Guyana). 

 

9. among epiphylly, based on Dickson (The Botanic Review, 1978), as far as South America absent Brazilian taxa is concerned, Nototriche Turcz. (Malvaceae) has inflorescences at the junction of the petiole and the leaf blade; Phyllonoma Willd. ex Schultes (Phyllonomaceae, Venezuela to Peru) has inflorescences on the upper surface of the leaves; Erythrochiton hypophyllanthus Planch. (Rutaceae), endemic to Colombia, on the lower surface; in additon, by G. Mathieu et al. (Botanical Journal of Linnean Society, 2008), 12 spp. of Peperomia (Piperaceae) in South America (Colombia to Bolivia) has inflorescences at the junction of the petiole and the leaf blade.

10. of the 10 largest angiosperm seeds (Wikipedia), 5 are from palms absent in South America, two are from non-palms from East Asia (in Poaceae and Lauraceae), and 3 from South America: the 3rd and 8th in Mora (Fabaceae), respectively M. oleifera (Triana ex Hemsl.) Ducke from Central America to Ecuador, 18 cm ✕ 15 cm ✕ 8 cm, and M. excelsa Benth. from Venezuela and Guianas); and the 9th, Pelleciera rhizophorae Planch. & Triana, Tetrameristaceae, a mangrove from the Pacific (Costa Rica to Ecuador) and Atlantic (Nicaragua to Colombia) coasts of tropical America. Saccoglottis ovicarpa Cuatr. from Chocó region of W Colombia may be the largest-fruited Humiriaceae, as well two spp. of Compsoneura and also two spp. of Iryanthera of the same region, in their respective genera, both Myristicaceae (Gentry, Caldasia, 1986, pg. 12). Attalea cuatrecasasiana (Dugand) A.J.Hend., Galeano & R.Bernal (Arecaceae) has fruits up to 14 cm. long by 10 cm in diameter, they are the third largest seeds in the palm family after the double coconut (Lodoicea maldivica, Seychelles) and the coconut (Cocos nucifera, Paleotropics), and the largest in New World (Palmpedia).

Zanthoxylum magnifructum Reynel (Colombia) has the largest fruits of any species in the genus in the New World (Reynel, Novon, 2020). Chionanthus megistocarpus (Oleaceae, Colombia) has largest fruits for this genus in the Neotropics (4.5–5 cm long; Fernández-Alonso, Phytotaxa, 2016). Ternstroemia washikiatii Cornejo & C.Ulloa (Pentaphyllacaceae, Ecuador) the large leaves (21–33 × 8.5–11 cm), and the large fruits (4.5–5.5 × 6.5–7.7 cm) of this genus (Cornejo & Ulloa, Harvard Papers in Botany, 2016). Monteverdia multicostata Cornejo & Biral (Celastraceae, Ecuador) has the largest fruits in the genus (to 3.5 cm long, Cornejo & Biral, Phytotaxa, 2021). Solanum sibundoyense (Bohs) Bohs (Solanaceae, Colombia) produces some of the largest fruits known in Cyphomandra clade (10cm ✕ 7cm, Bohs, Systematic Botany, 1988).

 

11. populations of Polylepis tarapacana Phil. (Rosaceae, Bolivia and Cono Sur) near Nevado Sajama, Bolivia, grow at about 5,600 m in altitude, making the highest record of trees in the world, displacing records of Abies squamata Masters (Pinaceae) in SW China (How High Altitude Polylepis Trees Taste the Guinness World Records Wrong, 2016); Myrosmodes Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae) is the only genus of its family to grow in the swamps of the high Andes and was registered at about 5,100 m a.s.l., highest habitat known to support orchids in Earth (Trujillo et al., Lankesteriana, 2016). Barbaceniopsis boliviensis (Baker) L.B. Smith is the highest known site of Velloziaceae, growing at 2,900 m in Bolivian Andes (Ibsch et al., Systematic Botany, 2001). Ceroxylon parvifrons (Engel) H.Wendl grows at the highest elevations in the world for a member of Arecaceae: 3,500 m in Ecuador (F. Borchsenius & M. Moraes R., Botánica Económica de los Andes Centrales, 2006). Chusquea aristata Munro (Poaceae) from Colombia to Peru has the distinction of growing at altitudes up to 4,300 m in Ecuador, the highest known elevation for any bamboo (Judziewicz and Clark, Aliso, 2007). 

 

12. cauliflory is an unusual phenomenon among flowering plants that evolved multiple times during the history of angiosperms, mainly tropical, like South American non Brazilian Grias in Lecythidaceae, Latua in Solanaceae, and Crescentieae in Bignoniaceae. 

 

13. Puya raimondii Harms (Bromeliaceae) from mountains of Peru and Bolivia is the most massive inflorescence of the Earth, with 8-12m tall, and have a diameter of up to 2.4 metres; extra-large specimens can grow as tall as 15m; the inflorescence can bear approximately 8,000 small white flowers (Guinness World Records). Croton amentiformis Riina (Euphorbiaceae) from Ecuador and N Peru is unique in its great genus with pendulous and quite dense inflorescences (R. Riina et al., Webbia, 2015); simple umbrellas in South American genera absent in Brazil belong only to Oreomyrrhis Endl. Monocostus K. Schum. (Costaceae) endemic to rainforests of E Peru is the only axillary uniflorous species in his family (Neotropical Costaceae). 

 

14. the third species-to-species largest flower in the New World is possibly Victoria boliviana Magdalena & L.T.Sm (Nymphaeaceae), endemic to flood plains of the Llanos de Moxos, Mamoré watershed, E Bolivia, with a diameter of up to 36cm. Psittacanthus longiflorus Kuijt (Loranthaceae), known only from Amazonas in Peru has unusually long flowers (to 17 cm), the longest known for this genus (Kuijt, Novon, 2014). Passiflora antioquiensis H.Karts (Passifloraceae), endemic to Colombia, is possibly the largest flower of this family (observation of SDa, see images). 

 

15. by Almeda & Dorr (PCAS, 2006), 37 spp. of Melastomataceae are dioecious, all in Miconia Ruiz & Pav., mainly from northern Andes, 25 from Ecuador to Bolivia, 3 of them up to Colombia, 3 endemics to Venezuela, 5 from Mexico and Central America and 3 in Caribbean, one up South America, another up Central America - none in Brazil. 

 

16. Rhytidanthera (Planch.) Tieghem from Colombia and Venezuela is the only genus of Ochnaceae with compound leaves (Reinales & Parra-O, BJLS, 2020). Despite being impressive for its large leaves, Pentagonia Benth. stands out for being the genus of the only species of Rubiaceae with normal, mature leaves are pinnately lobed to deeply pinnatifid. In the New World, occasional individuals of some species of Simira Aubl. may have pinnatifid leaves and a few species of Cruckshanksia Hook. & Arn. have leaves deeply and digitately 2 or 3 lobed (Hammel, Phytoneuron, 2015). 

 

17. the typical venation of Melastomataceae is absent in remarkable latifolious genus absent in Brazil: Alloneuron Pilg., exclusive from Colombia and (mainly in) Peru, with more specifically semicraspedodromous or mixed craspedodromous (Michelangely et al., Int. J. Plant Sciences, 2011). 

 

18. at pollination, Rhynchotheca Ruiz & Pavon (Francoaceae) from Ecuador and N Peru may be the only anemophilous species of Geraniales (POWO | NTK). 

 

19. the presence of both monads and tetrads in the same genus is very rare; for instance, this feature occur, e.g., in extra-South American Typha L. (Typhaceae), Epilobium L. (Onagraceae) and Podophyllum L. (Berberidaceae), and in South American Xanthossoma (Araceae), where all species have pollen in tetrads except three spp. from Venezuela to Peru (X. paradoxum (Bogner & Mayo) Bogner, X. mariae Bogner & E. G. Gonç. and X. latestigmatum Bogner & E. G. Gonç.), who have pollen in monads. 

 

20. among odd fruits, of the 2,223 Myrtaceae of New World, only Metrosideros stipularis (Hook. & Arn.) Hook.f. from S Chile and Argentina has capsular fruits - and is also the only non-Myrteae (is a Metrosidereae) in the hemisphere (Lucas et al., Taxon, 2007; Pillon et al., Systematic Botany, 2015). Dactylocardamum Al-Shehbaz, endemic to mountains of Peru, is the unique in Brassicaceae in fruits axillary sandwiched imbricated leaves (Al-Shehbaz, Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 1989). 

 

21. an immense diversity of plants in South America are highly toxic, and any detailing is beyond the scope of this text. However, one remarkable monotypic genera can be cited: Sarcotoxicum salicifolium (Griseb) X. Cornejo & H. H. Iltis (Capparaceae), from Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, whose fruits are edible at maturity if properly cooked, but extremely poisonous when immature, or even dried (Cornejo, Harvard Pappers in Botany, 2009). 

 

22. Calceolaria L. (Calceolariaceae) from tropical America is among the largest oil-producing genera - nonvolatile, a very unusual floral reward that attracts particular solitary oil-collecting bees (Cosakov et al., American Journal of Botany, 2009). 

 

23. at longevity, the List of Superlative Trees: Oldest proposes the ten oldest trees, and the second on the list is a gymnosperm from Argentina and Chile (Fitzroya cupressoides Hook. f. ex Lindl., Cupressaceae), in a Chilean individual.

24. Grias L. (Lecythidaceae) possibly has the largest leaves of Ericales; all species have leaves more tham 1m long (NYGB), but only two have bigger leaves: G. angustipetala Cornejo & S.A. Mori (Ecuador) and G. purpuripetala S.A. Mori & J. D. García-Gonz. (Colombia). Bajo Calima (region of W Colombia) species with putatively the largest leaves known in the entire world for their families include Schlegelia dressleri A. Gentry (Schlegeliaceae), Psittacanthus gigas Kuijt (Loranthaceae, leaves 50-100 cm long), Moquilea gentryi Prance (Chrysobalanaceae), Guarea cartaguenya Cuatrec (Meliaceae), Iryanthera megistophylla A. C. Smith (Myristicaceae), Ilex sp. nov. (leaves 15-25 x ca. 10 cm, Aquifoliaceae), and possibly Protium amplum Cuatr. (Burseraceae) and Macrolobium archeri Cowan (Fabaceae, also in Ecuador) - Gentry (Caldasia, 1986); some of them species reaches also in Panamá and Ecuador. Chusquea spectabilis L.G.Clark (Poaceae) from Venezuela to Ecuador has leaf blades which can reach 3–4 m in length, the largest leaves known in the grass family (Judziewicz and Clark, Aliso, 2007). 

 

25. spurred (with nectar spur in flower) genera in South America absents in Brazil includes Halenia (Gentianaceae), Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae, only E. tithymaloides L.), Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) and Nuttalanthus (Plantaginaceae), by SAa (SEE). 

 

26. spiralate anther in a very rare features, cited by few groups; in South America but non in Brazil this feature occur in Centaurium J.Hill. (Gentianaceae), by Krapov. (Bonplandia, 2009). 

 

27. the only neotropical dimerous Lauraceae is Yasunia van der Werff (Lauraceae), from Ecuador and Peru (van der Werff & Nishida, Novon, 2010); Tacarcuna amanoifolia Huft. from Colombia and Peru has 14–19 stamens, among the highest number in Phyllanthaceae (Hoffman et al., Kew Bulletin, 2006). 

28. Only two several parasitic plants infect cactis, both Loranthaceae subtribe Ligariinae: Tristerix aphyllus (Miers ex DC.) Barlow & Wiens attacking Trichocereeus chiloensis (Colla) Britton & Rose in Chile, and Ligaria cuneifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh. on Corryocactus Britton & Rose in Peru (Mauseth et al., Cactus and Succulent Journal, 2006). Tristerix aphyllus also has the most derived parasite in Santalales, as a endophytic parasite on cacti, whose endophytic life history may allow the parasite to escape the hot and desiccating desert conditions; however, this species retain some chlorophyll, and in spite of these extreme advances toward parasitism, true holoparasites are absent in the order despites Balanophoraceae (Science Direct | Holoparasitic). 

29. several members of Amaryllidaceae-Alloideae from Chile, Bolivia and Argentina (Gilliesia Lindl. and Miersia Lindl.) has zygomorphic flowers, superficially some Orchidaceae, uncommon or absent in remaining family in continent (Rudall et al., Am. J. Bot., 2002). 

30. some South American plants have some extremely unique appearance peculiarities. Outside Brazil, one of the most notable is Telipogon diabolicus Kolan., Szlach. & Medina (Orchidaceae), endemic to the border between the departments of Putumayo and Nariño in S Colombia, due to its floral appearance that resembles the popular silhouette of a devil.

31. Bignonia magnifica W.Bull (Bignoniaceae, Panama to N Venezuela and Ecuador) is the longest Lamiid plastome described to date (Fonseca et al., PeerJ, 2022).

NEW WORLD ORCHIDACEAE✅

PLESOM

On October 9, 2022 the VPA (SEE) listed 14,632 orchids (species, notospecies and natural hybrids) in New World, 11,740 of which in South America. Of the more than 350 genera of Orchidaceae in the hemisphere, a group of six genera stands out: the PLESOM group, formed by Pleurothallis, Lepanthes, Epidendrum, Stelis, Oncidium and Masdevallia. These genera together have 5,820 spp., about 40% of all Neotropical diversity; in South America they are 4,773 spp., which is also around 40% of the local amount.

Vanilla, Habenaria, Corymborkis, Bulbophyllum, Polystachia, Calanthe, Tropidia, Liparis, Malaxis and Eulophia are the only South American genera not restricted to New World.

By country, Brazil has the 3ª greatest diversity of orchids in the world, behind its (quasi-)neighbors Colombia and Ecuador. By the way, the national family diversity in these countries is the largest for a single family in a single country ever described. Ecuador at 2,228 of its 4,289 spp. belonging to PLESOM (c. 52% of its national diversity); Colombia has 1,818 of its 4186 in PLESOM (c. 43% of national diversity). Brazil has in PLESOM only 269 spp. of its 2,734 spp., less than 10%.

Excluding the PLESOM group, we have the following national diversities: Ecuador 2,061; Colombia 2,368; Brazil 2,465. The numbers show that the very high diversity of Orchidaceae in the two Andean countries is due to an explosion of diversity in the PLESOM group; outside of it, Brazil has more diversity of Orchidaceae.

OVER GENERIC DIVERSITY

All South American Orchidaceae tribes occur in Brazil except Colllabieae (20/443), which has its only South American species in Colombia (Calanthe calanthoides (A. Rich. & Galeotti) Hamer & Garay). Brazil has 203 genera, Colombia has 230 and Ecuador 217.

SOUTH AMERICAN GENERA BY GROUP; FOR BRAZIL, /BR DENOTES ABSENT GENERA; [BR] DENOTES ENDEMIC GENERA.

In the subfamilies Vanilloideae and Cipripedioideae, Brazil and Colombia have all 6 South American genera; Ecuador and Peru 5 of them (except Duckeella). In species at Brazil against Colombia, Brazil wins in Vanilloideae for 22 spp., and Colombia wins Brazil in Cipripedioideae for only one species.

In the subfamily Orchidoideae (Microchilus inc. Aspidogyne, Kreodanthus, Platythelys, Stephanothelys; Solenocentrum absent in Colombia), South America has 52 genera, Brazil and Peru have 31 each, Colombia has 30, and Ecuador has 32; national endemic genera in this subfamily occur only in Brazil (4, Espinhassoa, Thelyschista, Cotylolabium and Nothostele) and Venezuela (2, Aracamunia and Stalkya). Brazil has more Orchidioideae species than Mexico and Colombia.

Degranvillea dermaptera Datermann from French Guiana and Suriname is the only South American mycoheterotrophic orchid outside Epidendroideae.

Among Epidendroideae, the ten smaller clades (Neottieae, Sobralieae, Tropidieae, Triphoreae, Xerorchideae, Wullschaegelieae, Gastrodieae, Malaxideae, Vandeae, Collabieae) has 22 genera in South America, 21 in Colombia, 19 in Venezuela, 18 in Ecuador and 17 in Brazil.

In Epidendreae, with 70 genera in South America, Colombia has 60 genera, Ecuador 54, Venezuela 53, Peru 52, and Brazil only 51.

In Cymbidieae, South America has 145 genera; Colombia has 108, Ecuador 104, Venezuela 95, Brazil 93, and Peru 90.

SOUTH AMERICAN POACEAE ✅

South America has 234 genera of Poaceae with native species in 11 of 12 subfamilies; in 7 of them Brazil has the primacy in number of genera, with these groups adding up to 136 genera on the continent, 125 in Brazil and 11 absents: five Bambusoideae (where Brazil has 12 endemic genera) and six in Panicoideae (Brazil with 7 endemic genera). The status of the 4 other families are detailed below.

Danthonioideae (19/285) has three genera in South America, Cortaderia Stapf. and Danthonia DC occur in Brazil; Rytidosperma Stued. occur from Malesia to Australasia, Hawaiian Islands, Easter Island and S. South America in Argentina and Chile.

Arundinoideae (11-13/35-38) is a subfamily with a single representative in the Americas, P. australis (Nees) Döll, which curiously occurs in all countries of the Hemisphere, except for the Caribbean islands, Brazil and Paraguay, this being genus probably the most distributed of all the New World genera absent in the country. None of the major platforms (POWO, VPA, WCSPF, Reflora) marks this genus in Brazil. Beauty images of this species in French Guiana can be seen at La Chaussete Rouge (SEE).

Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan species that has strong effects on the ecosystems it inhabits; it therefore can offer valuable insights into plant responses to global change, with three welll defined lineages, possibly more (Eller et al., Frontiers, 2017); It is a robust and highly productive grass in the Poaceae family that occurs in a wide range of freshwater and brackish wetlands. GBIF shows 7 records of this species in Brazil (SEE), in SE & S Rio de Janeiro to E São Paulo states, also a isolated record in western region of latter states, which are marked on the more general map of the species, which strongly agrees with the maps present in POWO, if we consider all 7 records as insufficient to attest to their native status in the country. 

 

In Chloridioideae, South America has 39 genera; Argentina and Brazil lead in generic diversity, with 28 (Blepharidachne, Scleropogon, Tragus and Willkommia are highly disjuncts, Neobouteloua endemic) and 21 (Triraphis highly disjunct; three endemics), respectively.

Pooideae has 55 genera in South America, only 25 in Brazil. The highest diversity are from Argentina, with 39 genera, Chile 37, Peru 35, Bolivia 32, Colombia and Ecuador 31. For species, South America has 847 spp., only 99 in Brazil, 25 endemics.

Four lineages of Pooideae ocur in South America, four in Brazil (numbers at parenthesis): Meliceae (2/13 spp.), Stipeae (3/32 spp.), Brachypodieae (absent), Triticeae (2/5 spp.) and Poeae (18/48 spp.). Excepting Brachypodieae, all subtribes absents in Brazil belongs Poeae. 

 

Poeae has 16 subtribs in South America, nine absents in Brazil.

SOUTH AMERICAN CAVE SMALLER DIVERSITIES ✅

Despite the huge amount of caves that have never been scientifically explored in Brazilian territory, the knowledge of the country's troglofauna is considerable and Brazil has been establishing itself with a remarkable diversity, probably the 5th largest in the world outside Europe (after the USA, Australia, China and Mexico). For South American neighbors, the situation is quite different. There is very little information about the troglofauna of these countries, in general very fragmented and imprecise.

In light of this problem, we present here an overview of all the citations of cave animlas from the countries of South America except Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Peru present in White & Culver (Enciclopedia of Caves, 2019, 3th edition), with eventual notes for other sources. The text is organized by taxonomic group and has not been revised by other sources, with the information provided only slightly adapted for consistency in writing. The text was revised to exclude any citation that, in quick analysis, does not refer to troglobionts.

BY COMUNITIES

Sporadic sampling of microcrustaceans in caves and other subterranean habitats of continental Argentina and Chile, revealed a diversified yet poorly known fauna of copepods harpacticoids (e.g., Parastenocaris, Stygonitocrella, and Elaphoidella) and cyclopoids (e.g., Hesperocyclops, Paracyclops, and Tropocyclops), ostracods, syncarids Bathynellidae, Parabathynellidae, and Stygocarididae, amphipods (ingolfiellids) and isopods (protojanirids in Argentina), besides hydracarians.

BY GROUP

AMPHIPODA ‣ troglobitic Bogidiella species are known from Ecuador, and the hypogean Patagongidiella and Grossogidiella are syntopic in Argentina, all xclusively subterranean.

DIPLURA ‣ among Campodeidae diplurans, Lepidocampa has been recorded in French Guyana (troglobitic species).

COLLEMBOLA ‣ cave-restricted genus Troglospinotheca (Spinothecidae) from Argentina is monospecific with single troglobiotic species known to date. Other troglobitic species occur in Ecuador (Oncopodura, Trogolaphysa).

COLEOPTERA ‣ among detritivorous/scavenging beetles, cholevids (e.g., Dissochaetus, Adelopsis) have been found in caves all over South America, from Argentina (Ptomophagus, locally) and Chile (Eupelates, locally), besides hydrophilids (Troglochares, troglobite in Ecuador), elaterids, scarabaeids, curculionids, among others. Outside subtropical China, troglomorphic beetles are exceptionally encountered in lowland of tropical regions but regularly found in highland caves, such as Mayaphaenops sbordonii at 3000m in Guatemala.

ORTHOPTERA ‣ Rhaphidophorids (camel crickets), cave crickets in the Northern Hemisphere, have their ecological equivalents in Chilean temperate caves.

ZYGENTOMA ‣ instances of relicts, either phylogenetic or geographic include the silverfish P. spelaeus, from semiarid areas in Argentinian Patagonia.

HEMIPTERA ‣ fulgoromorph homopterans (planthoppers), such as cixiids, are plant feeders usually associated with roots in superficial caves; troglobitic species in this group have been found in Argentina.

ACARI ‣ Hygrobatidae contains numerous species recorded from subterranean waters. Among the more important genera in South America are Atractides, also in Europe, and Asia; Australiobates, Callumobates, Camposea, and Decussobates from Chile; Corticacarus in over continent. Hydryphantidae is an abundant family in underground waters, with a large number of described species. Genera containing subterranean species in South America include Clathrosperchon; Euwandesia from Chile and New Zealand. The only troglobite in Microstigmatidae is Spelocteniza ashmolei Gertsch from Ecuador.

ARANEAE ‣ Pholcidae is well represented in caves, especially in the New World tropics. Troglobitic species of Metagonia and Aymaria have been described from caves in Galapagos Islands. Other genera containing cave-associated species include Physocyclus in Uruguay, Modisimus in French Guyana, Spermophora in Argentina. Cave mygalomorphs are frequent in tropical caves; they include the large theraphosids (tarantulas) recorded in Argentina; and a microstimatid (formerly in Dipluridae; Speleocteniza from Ecuador). The primitive araneomorph (true) spider Hickmania troglodytes from Tasmania is a troglophilic member of Austrochilidae, a family that also occurs in Chile and Argentina. Several other araneomorph families, mostly comprising small ground spiders, have troglomorphic representatives in South America, for instance: Hahniidae (Chile). Oonopidae includes several cave-associated species, including several troglobites, as Gamasomorpha in Ecuador and Ceylon.

OPILIONES ‣ triaenonychids were reported for Chile, Argentina, with troglobitic genera containing troglobites include Picunchenops in Argentina. Picunchenops spelaeus should be a distribution relict in the Argentinian Patagonia, since harvestmen are hygrophilous, low vagile, nocturnal, and cryptobiotic, hence the semiarid epigean environment would hamper surface dispersion. Genera containing troglophiles or trogloxenes include Pachyloides from Uruguay.

 

PSEUDOSCORPIONA ‣ Syarinidae contains cave-associated species in the caves of Europe, North America, South America (Ideobisium in Ecuador), and the West Indies. 

SCORPIONIDA ‣ troglobitic species include Troglotayosicus vachoni, from Ecuador.

SCHIZOMIDA ‣ a large number of species of Hubbardiidae have been recorded from caves, but unquestioned troglobites are known only from caves in Cuba, Jamaica, Belize, Mexico, California (USA), Ecuador (Tayos ashmolei), and Australia. 

PALPIGRADA ‣ among palpigrads, several Eukoenenia species have been reported as troglobites in French Guyana.

ACTINOPTERIGY ‣ in South America except Brazil all but two species are siluriforms (catfishes), most pertaining to the Trichomycteridae and Heptapteridae. Most trichomycterids belong to the genus Trichomycterus, with troglobitic representatives with troglobitic representatives in Bolivia (at least one), followed by Silvinichthys (Argentina). Troglobitic heptapterids belong to the genera Rhamdia (1 in Ecuador, from caves in the Napo Province). Other siluriform families with troglobites in region are Astroblepidae (Ecuador). Cave-adapted members of the catfish genus Astroblepus in Ecuador possess a unique adaptation to detect changes in water flow.

BY LOCATION

FRENCH GUIANA ‣ cited here: Lepidocampa (Diplura), Eukoenenia (Palpigrada), Modisimus (Araneae).

ECUADOR ‣ cited here: Ideobisium (Syarinidae/Pseudoscorpiona), Troglotayosicus vachoni (Scorpionida), Tayos ashmolei (Schizomida), Metagonia, Aymaria (Araneae, in Galapagos), Gamasomorpha (Araneae, Oonopidae), Spelocteniza ashmolei (Microstigmatidae), Bogidiella (Amphipoda), Oncopodura, Trogolaphysa (Collembola), Troglochares (Coleoptera), Rhamdia (Actinopterigy/Heptapteridae), Astroblepus (Actinopterigy/Astroblepidae). Likewise, the troglophilic and guanophilic fauna of Los Tayos cave in Ecuador included ca. 100 species of earthworms, isopods, chilopods, opiliones, diplopods (11 families), spiders (about 20 families), and 11 insect orders, mainly coleopterans and dipterans.

BOLIVIA ‣ cited here: Trichomycteridae (Actinopterigy). Other sources: the only citation found for troglobias in Bolivia was a sampling in the Umajalanta cave (Furtado et al., International Journal of Speleology, 2022), 11 troglobia species were cited for it: Trichomycterus chaberti, Coleoptera (3, one described, Escolatrechus bolivianus), Acari/Rhagidiidae (1), Collembola/Entomobryomorpha (1), and Dubioniscidae (1).

ARGENTINA ‣ cited here: Spermophora, large theraphosids (Araneae), Picunchenops (Opiliona/Triaenonychid), fulgoromorph homopterans (planthoppers), such as cixiids; Ptomophagus (Coleoptera); P. spelaeus (Zygentoma); Troglospinotheca (Spinothecidae/Collembola); Silvinichthys (Actinopterigy).

CHILE ‣ cited here: Rhaphidophorids (Orthoptera), Hahniidae (Araneae), Australiobates, Callumobates, Camposea, Decussobates (Acari/Hygrobatidae), Clathrosperchon, Euwandesia (Hydryphantidae), Eupelates (Coleoptera).

URUGUAY ‣ cited here: Physocyclus (Araneae), Pachyloides (Opiliona).

PASSERIFORMES FROM SOUTH AMERICA ✅

Modern Passeriformes includes 21 lineages (Oliveros et al., PNAS, 2019): Acanthisittidae (3/3, New Zealand), Tyranni/Eurylaimes (Old World, with Sapaoydea in New World), Tyranii/Furnariida (New World), Tyranii/Tyrannida (New World), 4 basal lineages in Passerida (Australasia), 3 basal Passeri/Corvides (Australasia, Campephagidae up to Asia and Africa), Passeri/Corvides/Orioloidea (Old World, Vireonidae in New World), Passeri/Corvides/Malaconotoidea (Old World), Passeri/Corvides/Corvoidea (Old World, Corvidae and Laniidae in New World), 4 basal Passeri/Passerides (Old World), Passeri/Passerides/Sylviidae (cosmopolitan), Passeri/Passerides/Muscicapida (cosmopolitan) and Passeri/Passerides/Passerida (cosmopolitan).

The data below follows Birds of the World/South America, List of Bird Genera (Wikipedia), both on October 29, 2023 and, for data on nesting birds in Brazil, Pacheco et al. (Ornithology Research, 2021). Data for endemics, see Intresures/Global Rankings. National diversities: Colombia (SEE) and Mexico (SEE). Teretistridae (1/2, endemic to Cuba) is tentatively near Zeledoniidae (Wikipedia). Monarchidade and Acrocephalidae occur in Hawaii.

New World Passeriformes includes 21 families no breeding in Brazil: Laniidae (2/33, only two Lanius in New World, both breeding only in Canada and U.S.A.), Alaudidae (21/99, Old World, Eremophila alpestris in North America up to C Mexico, also in Colombia), Paridae (14/64, 13 genera in Old World, and one endemic to North America and Mexico; 2/12 spp. in Mexico), Remizidae (3/11, Old World, Auriparus flaviceps in U.S.A. to Mexico), Aegithalidae (4/13, Old World to W North America south up to Guatemala, Psaltriparus minimus in Mexico), Dulidae (1/1, Hispaniola), Bombycillidae (1/3, northern Hemisphere up to center China and California), Ptiliogonatidae (3/4, U.S.A. and Mexico to Panama), Cinclidae, Regulidae (1/6, North America to Guatemala, Eurasia, Regulus satrapa in Mexico), Sittidae (1/15, temperate Old World, 4 from Canada to Mexico, two in Mexico), Rhodinocichlidae, Certhiidae (2/10, Eurasia, Africa, North America to Nicaragua, one in Mexico), Peucedramidae (1/1, SW U.S.A. to Nicaragua), Icteriidae (1/1, Canada to Panama), Calcariidae (3/6, North America, two up to Eurasia), Calyptophilidae (1/2, Hispaniola), Zeledoniidae (1/1, Costa Rica and Panama), Nesospingidae (1/1, Porto Rico), Spindalidae (3/4, West Indies, Cozumel Is.) and Phaenicophilidae (1/4, Hispaniola).

U.S.A. includes Tyrannidae, Vireonidae, Corvidae, Laniidae (1/2 in New World), Alaudidae, Paridae, Remizidae, Aegithalidae, Hirundinidae, Bombycillidae, Ptiliogonatidae, Cinclidae, Regulidae, Sittidae, Certhidae, Turdidae, Mimidae, Polioptilidae, Trogloditydae, Peucedramidae, Icteriidae, Calcariidae, Spindalidae, Parulidae, Icteridae, Passerellidae, Fringillidae, Cardinalidae and Motacillidae. A single family of Tyranii occur in U.S.A., i.e., Tyrannidae.

Mexico leads againt Brazil in Vireonidae (spp./sp.end.), Corvidae (g/spp./sp.end.), Alaudidae, Paridae, Aegithilidae, Remizidae, Ptiliogonatidae, Cinclidae, Regulidae, Sittidae, Rhodinocichlidae, Peucedramidae, Icteriidae, Spindalidae (absent in Brazil), Hirundinidae (sp.end.), Turdidae (g/spp./sp.end.), Mimidae (g/spp./sp.end.), Polioptilidae (sp.end.), Troglodytidae (g/spp./sp.end.), Parulidae (g/spp./sp.end.) Passerellidae (g/spp./sp.end.), Fringillidae (g.), Cardinalidae (g/spp./sp.end.).

Brazil includes in Tyranni (12:242/)678 spp. (145 endemics), Colombia (12:235/)590 spp. (25 endemics) and Mexico (9:68/)108 spp. (4 endemics).

Overall, Brazil includes in Passeriformes (28:369/)1,015 spp. (196 endemics), Colombia (31:380/)1,034 spp. (45 endemics) and Mexico (36:206/)473 spp. (76 endemics).

Brazilian genera in bold.

TYRANNY/EURYLAIMIDES ‣ all families exclusives to Old World except one in tropical America, Sapayoidae, with a single species, Sapayoa aenigma Hartert, 1903, from Panama to Colombia.

Sapayoa

TYRANNY/FURNARIDA ‣ all families exclusives to tropical America and presents in Brazil.

Melanopareiidae - a single genus with 5 spp., from Ecuador to Uruguay, M. torquata Wied, 1831 in C Brazil. 

 

Melanopareia 

 

Conopophagidae - Brazil has (1/)8spp. (4 endemics), Colombia (2/)3 (none endemics). Absent in Mexico.

Conopophaga 

Pittasoma (2, Costa Rica to Ecuador)

 

Thamnophilidae - 234 spp. and all 65 genera in South America. (54/)177 spp. in Brazil (53 endemics), (48/)118 in Colombia (3 endemics) and (7/)7 in Mexico (none endemics). Rhopias and Rhopornis are Brazilian endemics.

Akletos

Ammonastes

Ampelornis

Aprositornis

Batara

Biatas

Cercomacra

Cercomacroides

Clytoctantes

Cymbilaimus

Dichrozona

Drymophila

Dysithamnus

Epinecrophylla

Euchrepomis

Formicivora

Frederickena

Gymnocichla

Gymnopithys

Hafferia

Herpsilochmus

Hylophylax

Hypocnemis

Hypocnemoides

Hypoedaleus

Isleria

Mackenziaena

Megastictus

Microrhopias

Myrmeciza

Myrmelastes

Myrmoborus

Myrmochanes

Myrmoderus

Myrmophylax

Myrmorchilus

Myrmornis

Myrmotherula

Neoctantes

Oneillornis

Percnostola

Phaenostictus

Phlegopsis

Pithys

Poliocrania

Pygiptila

Pyriglena

Radinopsyche

Rhegmatorhina

Rhopias

Rhopornis

Sakesphorus

Sakesphoroides

Sciaphylax

Sclateria

Sipia

Stymphalornis

Taraba

Terenura

Thamnistes

Thamnomanes

Thamnophilus

Willisornis

Xenornis

Grallariidae - all genera and 69 spp. in South America. Colombia has (4/)32 spp. (7 endemics), Brazil (5/)13 (one endemic) and Mexico only one. All genera in this family occur in Brazil. Brazilian Cryptopezus (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) does not occur in Colombia.

Grallaria

Cyrtopezus

Grallaricula

Hylopezus

Myrmothera

Rhinocryptidae - tapaculos; all genera and 64 spp. in South America. Colombia has (4/)19 spp. (6 endemics), (5/)Brazil has 13 (10 endemics). Absent in Mexico. Eleoscytalopus and Merulaxis are Brazilian endemics.

Acropternis (1, Venezuela to Peru)

Eleoscytalopus

Eugralla

Liosceles

Merulaxis

Myornis (1, Colombia to Peru)

Psilorhamphus

Pteroptochos

Rhinocrypta

Scelorchilus

Scytalopus

Teledromas

Formicariidae - both genera and 11 spp. In South America. Colombia has 8 spp. (none endemics) and Brazil 7 (one endemic), in both genera. Only one sp. in Mexico.

Chamaeza

Formicarius

Furnariidae - ovenbirds and woodcreepers; all genera and 303 spp. in South America. (53/)155 spp. in Brazil (34 endemics), (46/)115 in Colombia (4 endemics) and (12/)19 in Mexico (one endemic). Megaxenops, Cichlocolaptes and Acrobatornis are Brazilian endemics.

Acrobatornis

Anabacerthia

Anabazenops

Ancistrops

Anumbius 

Aphrastura

Asthenes

Automolus

Berlepschia

Campylorhamphus

Certhiasomus

Certhiaxis 

Cichlocolaptes

Cinclodes

Clibanornis

Coryphistera

Cranioleuca

Deconychura

Dendrexetastes

Dendrocincla

Dendrocolaptes

Dendroma

Dendroplex

Drymornis

Drymotoxeres

Furnarius

Geocerthia

Geositta

Glyphorynchus

Heliobletus

Hellmayrea

Hylexetastes

Lepidocolaptes

Leptasthenura

Limnoctites 

Limnornis

Lochmias

Margarornis

Mazaria

Megaxenops

Metopothrix

Microxenops

Nasica

Ochetorhynchus

Phacellodomus 

Philydor

Phleocryptes

Premnoplex

Premnornis

Pseudasthenes

Pseudocolaptes

Pseudoseisura

Pygarrhichas

Roraimia

Schoeniophylax

Sclerurus

Siptornis

Sittasomus

Spartonoica

Sylviorthorhynchus 

Synallaxis

Syndactyla

Tarphonomus

Thripadectes

Thripophaga

Upucerthia

Xenerpestes

Xenops

Xiphocolaptes

Xiphorhynchus

TYRANNI/TYRANNIDA ‣ all families exclusives to tropical America.

Pipridae - manakins; all genera and 52 spp. in South America. (14/)35 spp. in Brazil (7 endemics), (15/)24 in Colombia (none endemics) and (3/)3 in Mexico (none endemics). Illicura is a Brazilian endemic.

Antilophia (Brazil and Paraguay to Bolivia)

Ceratopipra

Chiroxiphia

Chloropipo (2, Colombia to Peru).

Corapipo

Cryptopipo (1, Colombia to Peru).

Heterocercus

Ilicura

Lepidothrix

Machaeropterus

Manacus

Masius (1, Venezuela to Peru)

Neopelma

Pipra

Pseudopipra

Tyranneutes

Xenopipo

Cotingidae - cotingas and allies; all genera and 59 spp. in South America. Colombia has (18/)33 spp. (one endemic), Brazil (18/)31 (8 endemics), and Mexico (2/)2 (none endemics). Carpornis is a Brazilian endemic.

Ampelioides (1, Venezuela to Bolivia)

Ampelion (2, Venezuela to Bolivia)

Carpodectes (3, Costa Rica to Ecuador)

Carpornis

Cephalopterus

Conioptilon

Cotinga

Doliornis (2, Colombia to Peru)

Gymnoderus

Haematoderus

Lipaugus

Perissocephalus

Phibalura

Phoenicircus

Phytotoma

Pipreola

Porphyrolaema

Procnias

Pyroderus

Querula

Rupicola

Snowornis (2, Colombia to Peru)

Xipholena

Zaratornis (1, Peru)

Tityridae - tityras and allies; all genera and 32 spp. in South America. Colombia has (6/)22 spp. (none endemics), Brazil (7/)21 (4 endemics), and Mexico (3/)8 (one endemics). All genera in Brazil.

Iodopleura

Laniisoma

Laniocera

Pachyramphus

Schiffornis

Tityra

Xenopsaris

Oxyruncidae - all genera and 8 spp. in South America. 7 spp. in Colombia, 6 in Brazil, in all genera of family in both countries, and (3/)3 in Mexico. None endemics in this countries.

Myiobius

Onychorhynchus

Oxyruncus

Terenotriccus

Tyrannidae - tyrant flycatchers; 387 spp. and all genera in South America except Deltarhynchus (1, endemic to Mexico) and Xenotriccus (1, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador). Brazil has (78/)211 spp. (23 endemics), Colombia (82/)208 (4 endemics), (29/)64 in Mexico (2 endemics). Calyptura is a Brazilian endemic.

Agriornis

Alectrurus

Anairete

Aphanotriccus

Arundinicola

Atalotriccus

Attila

Calyptura

Camptostoma

Capsiempis

Casiornis

Cnemarchus

Cnemotriccus

Cnipodectes

Colonia

Colorhamphus

Conopias

Contopus

Corythopis

Culicivora

Elaenia

Empidonax

Empidonomus

Euscarthmus

Fluvicola

Griseotyrannus

Gubernetes

Guyramemua

Hemitriccus

Heteroxolmis

Hirundinea

Hymenops

Inezia

Knipolegus

Lathrotriccus

Legatus

Leptopogon

Lessonia

Lophotriccus

Machetornis

Mecocerculus

Megarynchus

Mionectes

Mitrephanes

Muscigralla

Muscipipra

Muscisaxicola

Myiarchus

Myiodynastes

Myiopagis

Myiophobus

Myiornis

Myiotheretes

Myiotriccus

Myiozetetes

Nengetus

Neopipo

Neoxolmis

Nephelomyias

Nesotriccus

Ochthoeca

Ochthornis

Oncostoma

Ornithion

Phaeomyias

Phelpsia

Philohydor

Phyllomyias

Phylloscartes

Piprites

Pitangus

Platyrinchus

Poecilotriccus

Pogonotriccus

Polioxolmis

Polystictus

Pseudelaenia

Pseudocolopteryx

Pseudotriccus

Pyrocephalus

Pyrrhomyias

Pyrope

Ramphotrigon

Rhynchocyclus

Rhytipterna

Satrapa

Sayornis

Serpophaga

Silvicultrix

Sirystes

Stigmatura

Sublegatus

Suiriri

Syrtidicola

Tachuris

Taeniotriccus

Todirostrum

Tolmomyias

Tumbezia

Tyrannopsis

Tyrannulus

Tyrannus

Uromyias

Xolmis

Zimmerius

CORVIDES/ORIOLOIDEA ‣ a huge group in Old World, only Vireonidae in New World.

Vireonidae - vireos and allies; 31 spp. in South America. All genera in South America except Asian Erpornis and Pteruthius. Mexico has (5/)26 spp. (4 endemics), Colombia (6/)22 (2 endemics) and Brazil only (6/)17 (3 endemics).

Cyclarhis

Hylophilus

Pachysylvia

Tunchiornis

Vireo

Vireolanius

CORVIDES/CORVOIDEA ‣ a huge group in Old World, only Corvidae and Laniidae (2/33, only two Lanius in New World, both breeding only in Canada and U.S.A.) in New World, the latter absent in South America.

Corvidae - seven genera from Mexico southwards: Corvus (subcosmopolitam, 45 spp., 5 in Mexico), Calocitta (2, Mexico to Costa Rica), Psilorhinus (1, Texas to Costa Rica), Aphelocoma (7, U.S.A. to Mexico), Nucifraga (3, 2 in Asia and one from Canada to N Mexico) and two in South America. Mexico has (7/)25 spp. (9 endemics, inc. two Corvus), Colombia (2/)7 (none endemics) and Brazil (1/)8 (two endemics). 

 

Cyanocorax 

Cyanolyca (9, 5 in Mesoamerica, 4 in South America, Venezuela to Bolivia, none national endemics)

PASSERIDES/SYLVIIDA ‣ a mainly afrotropical group, with six families in New World: Alaudidae (21/99, Old World, only one in North America up to C Mexico), Paridae (14/64, 13 genera in Old World, and one endemic to North America and Mexico), Donacobiidae, Hirudinidae, Remizidae (3/11, Old World, North America to Mexico) and Aegithalidae (4/13, Old World to W North America south up to Guatemala).

Alaudidae - larks; 21 genera, only one spp. in South America.

Eremophila

Donacobiidae - a single genus and species, from S Panama to S Brazil. 

 

Donacobius

Hirundinidae - no New World outsiders. Colombia has (10/)20 spp. (none endemics), Brazil (9/)17 (none endemics) and Mexico (8/)13 (one endemic).

Alopochelidon

Atticora

Hirundo

Orochelidon (3, Venezuela to Argentina)

Petrochelidon

Progne

Pygochelidon

Riparia

Stelgidopteryx

Tachycineta

PASSERIDES/MUSCICAPIDA ‣ a mainly North American group, with 12 families in New World: Dulidae (1/1, Hispaniola), Bombycillidae (1/3, northern Hemisphere up to center China and California), Ptiliogonatidae (3/4, Mexico to Panama and U.S.A.), Cinclidae, Turdidae, Mimidae, Regulidae (1/6, North America to Guatemala, Eurasia), Sittidae (1/15, temperate Old World, 4 from Canada to Mexico), Certhiidae (2/10, Eurasia, Africa, North America to Nicaragua), Polioptilidae and Troglodytidae.

Cinclidae - 5 spp. in a single genus, one from Alaska to Costa Rica, two in Eurasia and two in South America. South America members are C. schulzii Cabanis, 1882 and C. leucocephalus Tschudi, 1844

Cinclus

Turdidae - thrushes and allies; 41 spp. in South America. Outsiders in New World: Ixoreus (1, Canada to Mexico), Ridgwayia (1, Mexico), Sialia (3, U.S.A to Nicaragua). Colombia has (5/)28 spp. (none endemics), Mexico (6/)24 (4 endemics) and Brazil only (3/)21 (none endemics). Hylochchla is here not considered in Colombia or Mexico (SEE).

Catharus

Cichlopsis 

Entomodestes (2, Colombia to Bolivia)

Hylocichla

Myadestes (12, Mexico to Bolivia, Caribbean and Hawaii, only one in South America.)

Platycichla

Turdus

Mimidae - mockingbirds and thrashers; 10 spp. in South America. Outsiders: Allenia (5, Caribbean), Cinclocerthia (2, Caribbean), Margarops (1, Caribbean), Melanoptila (1, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala), Melanotis (2, Mexico to Honduras), Dumatella (1, breeding in Canada and U.S.A.), Toxostoma (11, U.S.A to Mexico), Oreoscoptes (1, Canada to Mexico) and Ramphocinclus (1, Caribeban). Mexico has (5/)17 spp. (5 endemics), Colombia (1/)1 (none endemics) and Brazil (1/)3 (none endemics). Dumetella is rejeted from Colombia and Mexico (SEE).

Mimus

Polioptilidae - all genera and 14 spp. in South America, all genera in South America. Brazil has (3/)10 spp. (none endemics), Colombia has (3/)7 (none endemics) and Mexico (2/)8 (one endemic).

Microbates

Ramphocaenus

Polioptila

Troglodytidae - 50 spp. in South America. Outsiders: Catherpes (1, Canada to Mexico), Ferminia (1, Cuba), Hylorchilus (2, endemic to Mexico), Salpinctes (1, Canada to Honduras), Thryomanes (1, Canada to Mexico), Thryothorus (1, Canada to Mexico), Thryorchilus (1, Costa Rica and Panama), Uropsila (1, Mexico to Honduras). (11/)35 in Colombia (7 endemics), (14/)33 in Mexico (13 endemics) and (9/)17 in Brazil (2 endemics).

Campylorhynchus

Cantorchilus

Cinnycerthia (4, Venezuela to Peru)

Cistothorus

Cyphorhinus

Henicorhina

Microcerculus

Odontorchilus

Pheugopedius

Thryophilus (5, Mexico to Colombia).

Troglodytes

PASSERIDES/PASSERIDA ‣ a mainly Neotropcal group, slightly diverse in Africa, with 14 families in New World: Peucedramidae (1/1, SW U.S.A. to Nicaragua), Motacillidae, Fringillidae, Icteriidae (1/1, Canada to Panama), Rhodinocichlidae, Calcariidae (3/6, North America, two up to Eurasia, absent in Mexico), Cardinallidae, Mitrospongidae, Thraupidae, Passerelidae, Parulidae, Icteridae, Calyptophilidae (1/2, Hispaniola), Zeledoniidae (1/1, Costa Rica and Panama), Nesospingidae (1/1, Porto Rico), Spindalidae (3/4, West Indies, Cozumel Is.) and Phaenicophilidae (1/4, Hispaniola).

Rhodinocichlidae - a single species, Rhodinocichla rosea Lesson, 1832, highly disjunct in Mexico, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela.

 

Thraupidae - tanagers and allies, 387 spp. in South America; all genera in South America except Acanthidops (1, Costa Rica and Panama), Euneornis (1, Jamaica), Loxigilla (2, Caribbean), Rowettia (1, Gough Is.), Pinaroloxias (1, Cocos, Costa Rica), Nesospiza (3, Tristan de Cunha), Loxipasser (1, Jamaica) and Melopyrrha (5, Caribbean).

(61/)176 spp. in Colombia (8 endemics), (51/)150 in Brazil (24 endemics) and (15/)25 in Mexico (one endemic). Compsothraupis, Orchesticus and Castanozoster are Brazilian endemics.

Anisognathus

Asemospiza

Bangsia

Buthraupis

Calochaetes

Camarhynchus

Castanozoster 

Catamblyrhynchus

Catamenia

Certhidea

Charitospiza

Chalcothraupis

Chlorochrysa

Chlorophanes

Chlorornis

Chrysothlypis

Cissopis

Cnemathraupis

Cnemoscopus

Coereba

Compsospiza

Compsothraupis

Conirostrum

Conothraupis

Coryphaspiza

Coryphospingus

Creurgops

Cyanerpes

Cyanicterus

Cypsnagra

Dacnis

Diglossa

Diuca

Dolospingus

Donacospiza 

Dubusia

Emberizoides

Embernagra

Eucometis

Geospiza

Geospizopsis

Gubernatrix

Haplospiza

Heliothraupis

Hemithraupis

Heterospingus

Idiopsar

Incaspiza

Iridophanes

Iridosornis

Ixothraupis

Kleinothraupis

Lanio

Lophospingus

Loriotus

Melanodera

Melanospiza

Microspingus

Nemosia

Neothraupis

Nephelornis

Orchesticus

Parkerthraustes

Paroaria

Phrygilus

Piezorina

Pipraeidea

Platyspiza

Poecilostreptus

Poospiza

Pseudosaltator

Pseudospingus

Pyrrhocoma

Ramphocelus

Rauenia

Rhodospingus

Rhopospina

Saltator

Saltatricula

Schistochlamys

Sericossypha

Sicalis

Sphenopsis

Sporathraupis

Sporophila

Stephanophorus

Stilpnia

Tachyphonus

Tangara

Tersina

Thephropilus

Thlypopsis

Thraupis

Tiaris

Trichothraupis

Urothraupis

Volatinia

Wetmorethraupis

Xenodacnis

Xenospingus

Parulidae - New World warblers. (6/)24 spp. breeds in Mexico (6 endemics), (5/)20 in Colombia (4 endemics), and only (5/)11 in Brazil (only one endemic). In Mexico breeds Oreothlypis (1), Leiothlypis (3), Geothlypis (7), Basileuterus (5), Cardellina (3) and Setophaga (5). In Colombia breeds Geothlypis (2), Basileuterus (4), Myioborus (4), Myiothlypis (9) and Setophaga (1). In Brazil breeds Geothlypis (2), Basileuterus (1), Myioborus (2), Myiothlypis (5) and Setophaga (1)

 

Basileuterus

Geothlypis

Myioborus

Myiothlypis

Setophaga

Icteridae - grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles; only three genera absents in South Ameria: Agelaius (5, Canada to Costa Rica and Caribbean), Euphagus (2, U.S.A. to Mexico), Nesopsar (1, Jamaica). (15/)41 spp. in Colombia (4 endemics), (19/)40 in Brazil (4 endemics) and (12/)37 in Mexico (3 endemics). Anamura is a Brazilian endemic, and Hypopyrrhus a Colombia endemic.

Agelaioides

Agelasticus

Amblycercus

Amblyramphus

Anumara

Cacicus

Chrysomus

Curaeus

Dives

Dolichonyx

Gnorimopsar

Gymnomystax

Hypopyrrhus

Icterus

Lampropsar

Leistes

Macroagelaius

Molothrus

Oreopsar

Psarocolius

Pseudoleistes

Quiscalus

Sturnella

Xanthocephalus

Xanthopsar

Passerellidae - New World sparrows; 62 spp. in South America. Ousiders: Aimophila (3, Mexico to Nicaragua), Amphispiza (1, U.S.A. to Mexico), Artemisiospiza (2, U.S.A to Mexco), Calamospiza (1, Canada to Mexico), Chondestes (1, Canada to Mexico), Junco (5, Canada to Panamá), Melospiza (3, Canada to Mexico), Melozone (8, U.S.A. to Costa Rica), Oriturus (1, Mexico), Passerculus (1, breeding from Canada to U.S.A., vagant up to Mexico), Passerella (1, Canada, U.S.A.), Peucaea (8 U.S.A. to Costa Rica), Pezopetes (1, Panama to Costa Rica), Pipilo (4, Canada to Mexico), Pooecetes (1, Canada to Mexico), Spizella (6, Canada to Nicaragua), Spizelloides (1, Canada to U.S.A.), Torreornis (1, Cuba) and Xenospiza (1, Mexico). 

 

(24/)61 spp. in Mexico (17 endemics; excluded Passerella), (7/)36 in Colombia (6 endemics), and (5/)9 in Brazil (2 endemics).

Ammodramus

Arremon

Arremonops

Atlapetes

Chlorospingus (8, S Mexico to NW Argentina, absent in Brazil)

Oreothraupis (1, Colombia to Ecuador)

Rhynchospiza

Zonotrichia

Fringillidae - true finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers. Outsiders: Coccothraustes (North America, Mexico, Central America), Pinicola (Holartic inc. North America), Leucosticte (Old World and North America), Acanthis (Holartic, North America), Loxia (North America, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean) and Haemorhous (North America, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean). 

 

(3/)22 spp. in Colombia, (6/)16 in Mexico, and only (3/)16 in Brazil, one endemic in each country. Mexico includes breeding species in Euphonia (5), Chlorophonia (2), Coccothraustes (2), Haemohous (1), Loxia (1), Spinus (5).

Chlorophonia

Euphonia

Spinus

Cardinalidae - cardinals and allies; outsiders: Cyanocompsa (1, Mexico to Nicaragua), Spiza, Passerina and Rhodothraupis (1, Mexico). (12/)27 in Mexico (7 endemics), (9/)21 in Colombia (2 endemics; excludes Pheucticus ludovicianus, Passerina and Spiza) and (7/)11 in Brazil (one endemic; excludes Pheucticus aureoventris). 

 

Mexico breeds in Piranga (7), Habia (2), Periporphyrus (1), Caryothraustes (1), Cardinalis (1), Periporphyrus (1), Pheucticus (2), Granatellus (2), Amaurospiza (1), Cyanolaxa (1), Cyanocompsa (1) and Passerina (7).

Amaurospiza

Cardinalis (3, two from Canada to Belize, one in Colombia to Venezuela)

Caryothraustes

Chlorothraupis (4, Nicaragua to Bolivia).

Cyanoloxia

Granatellus

Habia

Periporphyrus

Pheucticus

Piranga

Motacillidae - 11 spp. in South America, Motacilla is a outsider (breedng only in Alaska at New World). Mexico has 4 spp., Brazil has 5, and Colombia has 2, all in Anthus, none national endemics.

Anthus 

Mitrospingidae - 4 spp. in South America, in all genera. Brazil has 3 spp. in all genera, Colombia only one. Absent in Mexico. Orthogonys is a Brazilian endemic.

Lamprospiza

Mitrospingus

Orthogonys