7 thoughts on “Slender Antbird (Rhopornis ardesiacus)”
In fact, the situation of Rhopornis is “stable” in one of its localities of occurrence (Boa Nova). But its real presence in fragments scattered throughout its range needs to be verified to ensure that its area of occupation exceeds 2000 km2. It may be so, but there are no guarantees. My suggestion is that Vulnerable would be, at least for the time being, the most appropriate category.
This Brazilian endemic species as assessed as VU on the Brazilian National Red List assessment, and I would support the indication of Edson Ribeiro Luiz (who has worked for many years to study and conserve this species) that VU would be the most appropriate category.
The current species file is not available on the SALVE portal, but in the previous assessment, in which the species was categorised as EN in 2016, the AOO was calculated at 328 km², supporting categorisation then as EN under criteria B2ab(iii).
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
We thank all contributors for their comments. This species’ AOO is difficult to estimate and is here considered unknown due to the lack of presence/absence data from across its range. While calculating AOO solely based on a grid over validated georeferenced records may yield a value that falls below threatened thresholds, this does not account for the potential occupancy of remaining apparently suitable habitat and is thus likely to result in a significant underestimate.
If the species’ AOO did fall below the threshold for Vulnerable (2,000 km2), it would still need to meet two of the additional subcriteria to qualify as Vulnerable. Specifically, in addition to the ongoing decline in habitat area/extent/quality, it must either be severely fragmented (>50% of individuals or the total AOO in habitat patches that are both isolated and too small to support viable populations) or be restricted to ten or fewer locations (the term ‘location’ defining a geographically or ecologically distinct area in which a single threatening event can rapidly affect all individuals of the taxon present). There is currently no evidence that the majority of individuals are in subpopulations that would be considered unviable. The spatial footprint of each individual threat event likely to affect the species is small, such that the number of locations would be many. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Assessors in Brazil calculated an AOO of 560 km². They do not calculate the AOO based just on validated georeferenced records but also consider potential habitat and inferred records. However, it is not clear what specific habitat was considered for this calculation. They also consider that the population is severely fragmented. This is another example of a case where the data, arguments, and interpretations should be discussed between the BirdLife and ICMBio teams.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Slender Antbird is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching thresholds under Criterion C2a(i).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
In fact, the situation of Rhopornis is “stable” in one of its localities of occurrence (Boa Nova). But its real presence in fragments scattered throughout its range needs to be verified to ensure that its area of occupation exceeds 2000 km2. It may be so, but there are no guarantees. My suggestion is that Vulnerable would be, at least for the time being, the most appropriate category.
This Brazilian endemic species as assessed as VU on the Brazilian National Red List assessment, and I would support the indication of Edson Ribeiro Luiz (who has worked for many years to study and conserve this species) that VU would be the most appropriate category.
The current species file is not available on the SALVE portal, but in the previous assessment, in which the species was categorised as EN in 2016, the AOO was calculated at 328 km², supporting categorisation then as EN under criteria B2ab(iii).
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
We thank all contributors for their comments. This species’ AOO is difficult to estimate and is here considered unknown due to the lack of presence/absence data from across its range. While calculating AOO solely based on a grid over validated georeferenced records may yield a value that falls below threatened thresholds, this does not account for the potential occupancy of remaining apparently suitable habitat and is thus likely to result in a significant underestimate.
If the species’ AOO did fall below the threshold for Vulnerable (2,000 km2), it would still need to meet two of the additional subcriteria to qualify as Vulnerable. Specifically, in addition to the ongoing decline in habitat area/extent/quality, it must either be severely fragmented (>50% of individuals or the total AOO in habitat patches that are both isolated and too small to support viable populations) or be restricted to ten or fewer locations (the term ‘location’ defining a geographically or ecologically distinct area in which a single threatening event can rapidly affect all individuals of the taxon present). There is currently no evidence that the majority of individuals are in subpopulations that would be considered unviable. The spatial footprint of each individual threat event likely to affect the species is small, such that the number of locations would be many. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Assessors in Brazil calculated an AOO of 560 km². They do not calculate the AOO based just on validated georeferenced records but also consider potential habitat and inferred records. However, it is not clear what specific habitat was considered for this calculation. They also consider that the population is severely fragmented. This is another example of a case where the data, arguments, and interpretations should be discussed between the BirdLife and ICMBio teams.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Slender Antbird is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching thresholds under Criterion C2a(i).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.