Fairy-wrens (Maluridae)

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli) - HBW 12, p. 531

French: Amytis de Purnell German: Zimtgrasschlüpfer Spanish: Maluro Sombrío
Other common names: Dark/Buff-throated/Thin-billed/Western Grasswren, Rock Wren

Taxonomy: Diaphorillas textilis purnelli Mathews, 1914, Mount Benstead, Alice Springs, south Northern Territory, central Australia.
Probably forms a superspecies with A. ballarae; until recently treated as conspecific, but the two exhibit significant morphological differences, and separation at species level supported by protein evidence. In the past, was sometimes treated as a race of A. textilis. Monotypic.

Distribution: C Australian mountain ranges from NC Northern Territory (S from Ashburton Range, E to Jervois Range and Harts Range) S to E Western Australia (W to Rawlinson and Tomkinson Ranges) and N South Australia (S to Birksgate and Everard Ranges).