''Saltator'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of passerine birds in the tanager family Thraupidae that are found in Central and South America. They have thick bills, relatively long tails and strong legs and feet. Before the introduction of molecular genetic methods in the 21st century these species were placed in the cardinal family Cardinalidae.

Taxonomy

The genus was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816 with the buff-throated saltator as the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

. The name is from the Latin ''saltator, saltatoris'' meaning "dancer". The saltators were traditionally grouped with the cardinals, either in the subfamily Cardinalinae within an expanded Emberizidae or in a separate family Cardinalidae. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the saltators are embedded within the tanager family Thraupidae. Within the Thraupidae the genus ''Saltator'' is now placed with the genus ''

Saltatricula ''Saltatricula'' is a genus of South American seed-eating birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. Taxonomy and species list The genus ''Saltatricula'' was introduced in 1861 by the German naturalist Hermann Burmeister with the many-colored Chaco ...

'' in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Saltatorinae. The relationship of the subfamily to the other subfamilies within the Thraupidae is uncertain.

Species

The genus contains 16 species: The rufous-bellied mountain saltator was formerly a member of this genus. It is now placed in the subfamily Thraupinae and is the only member of the genus '' Pseudosaltator''. Its common name has been changed to rufous-bellied mountain tanager. The

black-throated saltator The black-throated saltator (''Saltatricula atricollis'') is a species of songbird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savanna A sava ...

was also formerly assigned to this genus. It is now placed together with the

many-colored Chaco finch The many-colored Chaco finch (''Saltatricula multicolor'') is a songbird found in or near dry woodland in south-central South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay. Evidence suggests it is a finch-like tanager. Description ''Sal ...

in the genus ''

'' as the two species form a divergent

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

that is sister to the other members of ''Saltator''.

References

External links

Saltator videos, photos & sounds
on the Internet Bird Collection {{Taxonbar, from=Q1049495 Bird genera Taxa named by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot

Taxonomy

Species

References

Further reading

External links