Editing Tapaculo (section)

==Taxonomy==
{{See also|List of tapaculos}}
The tapaculos were traditionally placed in a distinct [[family (biology)|family]] '''Rhinocryptidae'''; more recent research<ref name=Irestedt>{{Cite journal | last1=Irestedt | first1=M. | last2=Fjeldså | first2=J. | last3=Johansson | first3=U.S. | last4=Ericson | first4=P.G.P. | date=2002 | title=Systematic relationships and biogeography of the tracheophone suboscines (Aves: Passeriformes) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=23 | issue=3 | pages=499-512 | doi=10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00034-9}}</ref><ref name=Rice2005a>{{Cite journal | last=Rice | first=Nathan H. | date=2005 | title=Phylogenetic relationships of antpitta genera (Passeriformes: Formicariidae) | journal=The Auk | volume=122 | issue=2 | pages=673-683 | doi=10.1093/auk/122.2.673 | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=Rice2005b>{{Cite journal | last=Rice | first=Nathan H. | date=2005 | title=Further evidence for paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes) | journal=The Condor | volume=107 | issue=4 | pages=910-915 | doi=10.1093/condor/107.4.910 | doi-access=free}}</ref> indicates that according to analysis of [[mtDNA|mt]] and [[nDNA]] [[DNA sequence|sequence]] data, the tapaculos might be better merged into the [[Formicariidae]] as [[tribe (biology)|tribe]] '''Rhinocryptini''', as they are closer to the antthrushes than either is to the true [[antpitta]]s.

An alternative family name Pteroptochidae, has been used historically.{{sfn|Krabbe|Schulenberg|2003|p=748}}

The phylogenetic tree shown below is based on a large-scale genetic study of the [[suboscines]] by Michael Harvey and collaborators that was published in 2020.<ref name=harvey>{{Cite journal | last1=Harvey | first1=M.G. | display-authors=etal | date=2020 | title=The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot | journal=Science | volume=370 | issue=6522 | pages=1343-1348 | doi=10.1126/science.aaz6970 | hdl=10138/329703 | hdl-access=free }} A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website [http://www.harveybirdlab.org/docs/Harveyetal2020_Fig1_tree_HiRes.pdf here].</ref> The species numbers are from the list maintained by the [[International Ornithologists' Union]] (IOC).<ref name=ioc/>

{{clade | style=font-size:90%;line-height:90%
|label1='''Rhinocryptidae'''
|1={{Clade
   |1={{clade 
      |1={{Clade 
         |1=''[[Pteroptochos]]'' – huet-huets and moustached turca (3 species)
         |2=''[[Scelorchilus]]'' – tapaculos (2 species)
         }}
      |2={{Clade 
         |1={{Clade
            |1=''[[Liosceles]]'' – rusty-belted tapaculo
            |2=''[[Psilorhamphus]]'' – spotted bamboowren
            }}
         |2={{Clade
            |1=''[[Acropternis]]'' – ocellated tapaculo
            |2={{Clade
               |1=''[[Rhinocrypta]]'' – crested gallito
               |2=''[[Teledromas]]'' – sandy gallito
               }}
            }}
         }}
      }}
   |2={{Clade 
      |1={{Clade 
         |1=''[[Eleoscytalopus]]'' – tapaculos (2 species)
         |2=''[[Merulaxis]]'' – bristlefronts (2 species)
         }}
      |2={{Clade
         |1=''[[Myornis]]'' – ash-colored tapaculo
         |2={{Clade
            |1=''[[Eugralla]]'' – ochre-flanked tapaculo
            |2=''[[Scytalopus]]'' – tapaculos (49 species)
            }}
         }}
      }}
   }}
}}

The species-limits within the genus ''[[Scytalopus]]'' have historically been difficult to determine. The birds are highly [[Crypsis|cryptic]], and identification using visual features often is impossible. Vocal and [[biochemical]] data is typically needed to clarify the [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomic]] status of the various populations. Several [[Bird species new to science described in the 2000s|new species]] have been described in recent years (e.g. [[Scytalopus whitneyi|''S. whitneyi'']] and [[Scytalopus frankeae|''S. frankeae'']] from [[Peru]]). The Brazilian taxa are similarly complex with several recently described species and considerable confusion surrounding the use of the scientific name ''[[Scytalopus speluncae]]''.

Additionally, still undescribed species are known to exist, while some species as currently defined actually may include several species (e.g. the southern population of the [[large-footed tapaculo]] may represent a yet undescribed species). The confusing situation is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that only ten species were recognized in this genus in 1970, while the figure now is more than four times as high.{{sfn|Krabbe|Schulenberg|2003|p=751}}<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=January 2023 | title=Antthrushes, antpittas, gnateaters, tapaculos, crescentchests | work=IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/antthrushes/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | accessdate=16 March 2023}}</ref>