Kingdom Animalia Scientific name Laniisoma elegans Higher classification Laniisoma Order Passerine | Family Tityridae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Genus Laniisoma
Swainson, 1832 Similar Purpletuft, Purple‑throated cotinga, Swallow‑tailed cotinga, Buff‑throated purpletuft, Berryeater | ||
The shrike-like laniisoma (Laniisoma elegans), also known as the shrike-like cotinga or the elegant mourner, is a species of bird in the family Tityridae. As suggested by its common name, it was formerly considered a cotinga. As it is far from being "shrike-like", this means that the widely used common name is entirely misleading. It is the only member of the genus Laniisoma.
It is found in Atlantic forest in eastern Brazil and disjunctly in humid Andean forests in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. It has been suggested that the Andean taxa (buckleyi, venezuelense and cadwaladeri) should be considered a separate species, the Andean laniisoma (L. buckleyi). If this population was split off, the nominate taxon (elegans) would constitute a monotypic Brazilian endemic, the Brazilian laniisoma (L. elegans). It is generally rare and local throughout its range, and, if split, the Brazilian species would likely be considered threatened.