The Belem curassow (''Crax fasciolata pinima'') is a highly endangered subspecies of

curassow Curassows are one of the three major groups of cracid birds. They comprise the largest-bodied species of the cracid family. Three of the four genera are restricted to tropical South America; a single species of ''Crax'' ranges north to Mexico. ...

endemic to

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. It is known as the Mytunxî in the

Tupi language Old Tupi, Ancient Tupi or Classical Tupi (also spelled as Tupí) is an extinct Tupian language which was spoken by the aboriginal Tupi people of Brazil, mostly those who inhabited coastal regions in South and Southeast Brazil. It belongs to the ...

, the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

Red List and BirdLife International have described it as a separate species since 2014, though some authorities including the

International Ornithological Congress International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(IOC) still consider it a subspecies. This bird is critically endangered as its highly limited range is located within the most deforested part of

Amazonia The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...

. As with its relative, the

Alagoas curassow The Alagoas curassow (''Mitu mitu'') is a glossy-black, pheasant-like bird. It was formerly found in forests in Northeastern Brazil in what is now the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas, which is the origin of its common name. It is now extinct ...

, it was considered

extinct in the wild A species that is extinct in the wild (EW) is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as known only by living members kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range due ...

(albeit with only five individuals in captivity) for many years due to most of its vital habitat being destroyed. However, the species was still listed as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as suitable though very scant habitat remained. After over 40 years of no confirmed wild records, a research team with the assistance of Pirahã guides managed to rediscover several in the

Gurupi Biological Reserve Gurupi Biological Reserve ( pt, Reserva Biológica do Gurupi) is a biological reserve in the State of Maranhão, in Brazil. Location The Gurupi Biological Reserve covers parts of the municipalities of Centro Novo do Maranhão and Bom Jardim i ...

in December 2017. A recording of the birds' alarm calls was also taken and posted online.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q21355994 Crax Curassows Endemic birds of Brazil Birds described in 1870