Abstract
The Cantabrian capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus, a subspecies of the western capercaillie, is endemic to the Cantabrian Mountains of northwest Spain. The range is separated from its nearest neighbouring capercaillie population by a distance of more than 300 km. High genetic differentiation compared to capercaillie elsewhere qualifies the subspecies as an Evolutionarily Significant Unit. An assessment according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria showed that the subspecies qualifies as Endangered due to rapid population declines, small population size, and severely fragmented range. The implementation of a range-wide recovery plan is vital for the survival of this subspecies.
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Acknowledgment
We thank Stuart Burchart of BirdLife International for encouraging assessment of subspecies against IUCN criteria, and for revising and confirming our assessment of the Cantabrian capercaillie.
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Communicated by F. Bairlein
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Storch, I., Bañuelos, M.J., Fernández-Gil, A. et al. Subspecies Cantabrian capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus endangered according to IUCN criteria. J Ornithol 147, 653–655 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0101-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0101-5