ENGLISH SCRIPT

English name: Marvelous Spatuletail

Scientific Name : Loddigesia mirabilis

French Name : Merveilleuse queue de spatule

The Marvelous Spatuletail is the pride of Peru and is important to protect it.

This rare is only found in the slope of a particular valley in northern Peru. Its confined distribution range makes it a vulnerable species.

Because of the ongoing loss of its habitat, small population, and limited range, the Marvelous Spatuletail has been included in the IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, and it has also been included within CITES’ (Convention on International Trade in of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix II. Similarly, it is considered an AZE (Alliance for Zero Extinction) species.

The Marvelous Spatuletail is endemic to the Utcubamba river basin, in the high jungle region of northern Peru. It is found in the semi-humid grasslands and edges of the forest in the Utcubamba valley (2000 m. – 2900 m. above sea level). The common observation sites, as well as the areas that need to be protected, are located within Pomacochas, a town known for its namesake lake, which is located in the Bongara province of the Amazonas region.

THREATS: The ever-growing expansion of pastures for livestock within its habitat, which in most cases destroys the small wooded areas and thereby also destroys the homes of the limited number of this species, represents the greatest threat to the survival of the Marvelous Spatuletail.

It is of the utmost importance to conduct a study to determine the total number of the its population and other key aspects such as migratory patterns and ecological characteristics of its habitat. It is also key to asses to what extent can its deteriorated habitat sustain viable populations, and asses as well the possibility of creating a conservation area. There is also a need of conducting studies and conservation initiatives within the upper region of the Marañón river valley, which could be part of a much larger study about other threatened species in the region like the Peruvian pigeon or Marañón pigeon (Patagioenas oenops), Marañón spinetail (Synallaxis maranonica), etc.