Appearance
The coloration of the bird is primarily dark brown with chestnut color on the breast. The long legs, long tail and short wings struck the discoverer as reminiscent of laughingthrushes, and the name "Geomalia" is itself a reference to another, superficially similar Sulawesi endemic, the malia, but the two species are not related. The specific name commemorates its discoverer, the German explorer Gerd Heinrich.Naming
There has been some debate over the taxonomic affinities of the geomalia. While it has some features typical of thrushes, several others have led authors to question whether its placement in the thrush family is appropriate. A genetic study published in 2013 confirmed its placement in the family Turdidae, specifically as an aberrant member of the genus "Zoothera."Habitat
Due to its isolation and the difficulty of getting to its habitat, the geomalia is little-studied. The species may be threatened by uncontrolled logging and other activities that cause degradation of the Sulawesi highlands, including the grounds of legally protected lands such as Lore Lindu National Park. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.References:
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