Journal
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
Volume 102, Issue 4, Pages 846-869Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01611.x
Keywords
Asia; birds; diversification; molecular analysis; passerines; phylogenetics; Sino-Himalayas; species concepts; taxonomy; tropical
Categories
Funding
- Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund
- National Science Foundation [DEB-0962078, DEB-0743576]
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University
- Division Of Environmental Biology
- Direct For Biological Sciences [0962078] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Division Of Environmental Biology
- Direct For Biological Sciences [0743576] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Monophyly of the scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus, Xiphirhynchus: Timaliidae), traditionally defined by the characteristic of having long, curved bills, has been questioned by recent molecular phylogenetic results. We examined representatives of all scimitar babbler species complexes, including all distinct lineages of four complexes as well as several potential relatives, and corroborate that Xiphirhynchus and some species of Stachyris group within Pomatorhinus. Pomatorhinus species comprise three separate clades: larger scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus hypoleucos, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys complexes); orange- and coral-billed scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus complexes); and small scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus schisticeps, Pomatorhinus ruficollis, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii, Pomatorhinus montanus complexes). Additionally, at least two of the traditional species complexes are not monophyletic. Lineages of the ruficollis and schisticeps groups are intertwined, and P. montanus and P. horsfieldi group within the schisticeps complex. Upon revision of four traditional species complexes, P. hypoluecos, P. ferruginosus, P. schisticeps, and P. ruficollis (with 41 subspecies described in total), 27 distinct, independent lineages or phylogenetic species were distinguished. Two contrasting biogeographical patterns are evident in these groups: Sino-Himalayan areas are either sister to south-east Asian areas or are embedded within a clade of other Asian areas. The present study demonstrates the need for unraveling the confusion in traditional taxonomy to allow the study of complex biodiversity patterns in tropical Asia. (c) 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 846-869.
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