Chestnut-belted Gnateater is split into two species, based on deep genetic divergence (Batalha-Filo et al. 2014), and differences in plumage and vocalizations (Whitney 2003, Boesman 2016): Chestnut-belted Gnateater Conopophaga aurita, including subspecies aurita, inexpectata, occidentalis, and australis; and Black-breasted Gnateater Conopophaga snethlageae, with subspecies snethlageae and pallida.