Data Zone
Taxonomic note
Ramphastos vitellinus, R. culminatus, R. citrolaemus and R. ariel (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as R. vitellinus following SACC (2006) and a review by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group, and before then were split as R. vitellinus, R. culminatus and R. citreolaemus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).One of the so-called “croaking group” of toucans (see R. toco), along with the three species previously considered conspecific with it because of extensive hybrid populations which render it difficult to draw strict boundaries separating forms geographically. Present species differs from citrolaemus and culminatus in characters indicated under R. vitellinus (see related note), and from R. vitellinus in having yellow (vs blue) base of bill (3); red (vs blue) bare face, with blue vs brown iris (3); orange from commissure and lower ear-coverts to lower breast (vs white on these parts except central throat and breast) (3); also, broad hybrid zone (1). Proposed forms theresae (NE Brazil) and pintoi (SE Brazil) are now known to represent hybrids of culminatus with ariel. Monotypic.
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Near Threatened | A3cd+4cd |
| 2016 | Endangered | A2cd |
| 2014 | Endangered | A2cd |
| 2012 | Not Recognised | |
| 2008 | Not Recognised | |
| 2004 | Not Recognised | |
| 2000 | Not Recognised | |
| 1994 | Not Recognised | |
| 1988 | Not Recognised |
| Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | high |
| Land-mass type | Average mass | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 5,990,000 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | unknown | - | - | - |
| Population trend | decreasing | - | suspected | 2016-2034 |
| Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 10-19% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 20-29% | - | - | - |
| Generation length | 5.95 years | - | - | - |
| Number of subpopulations | 2-100 | - | - | - |
| Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation | 1-89% | - | - | - |
Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as 'fairly common' (Stotz et al. 1996).
Trend justification: The population trend has not been quantified directly, but the species is suspected to be declining as a consequence of widespread deforestation and hunting pressure (del Hoyo et al. 2020). Tree cover within the range has been lost at a rate of 17% over the last three generations (17.9 years); since 2016 this has been increasing to a rate equivalent to 23% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Despite being absent from fully cleared areas the species shows considerable tolerance of human-modified and disturbed habitats and is commonly observed in degraded forest, edge and savanna habitat (A. Lees in litt. 2014, del Hoyo et al. 2020). Therefore, tree cover loss along may not be driving a rapid population decline. The species may however be hunted for food and trapped for trade, the impact of which has not been quantified. Tentatively, it is suspected that the population declined by 10-19% over the past three generations, but following the acceleration of tree cover loss in 2016 the decline now falls in the band 20-29% over three generations.
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | extant | native | yes |
| Country/Territory | IBA Name |
|---|
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest | suitable | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland | major | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane | suitable | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Swamp | suitable | resident |
| Savanna | Dry | suitable | resident |
| Altitude | 0 - 1700 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Biological resource use | Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Purpose | Scale |
|---|---|
| Food - human | subsistence, national |
| Pets/display animals, horticulture | subsistence, national |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ariel Toucan Ramphastos ariel. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ariel-toucan-ramphastos-ariel on 18/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 18/12/2024.