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A New Species of Scytalopus Tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae) from the Andes of Central Peru
Abstract
We describe a new species of Scytalopus tapaculo (Aves: Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae) from the temperate humid montane forests (2,400-3,200 m) of Junín Department, Peru. This species has a unique song that differs strikingly from that of any known Scytalopus species, consisting of a rapidly repeated series of ascending phrases. Phenotypically, the new species is uniformly blackish in color and small-to-medium in size, most similar to members of the allopatric S. latrans complex. At least six species of Scytalopus occur along an elevational gradient on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Junin; in the vicinity of the type locality, the new species replaces S. femoralis at 2,400-2,500 m, and is replaced by S. acutirostris at 2,900-3,200 m. Throughout its elevational range, the new species is broadly syntopic with the larger S. macropus. This species is currently known from a single river drainage; although it probably occurs more broadly, it is likely a range-restricted species endemic to central Peru.
... We were able to gather elevational distribution data for 57 taxa of Scytalopus; these represent all named species as well as several distinct populations, which may be undescribed species given genetic divergence, vocal variation, or geographic distributions (see Cadena et al., 2019b). We obtained information on elevational ranges from taxonomic descriptions (Whitney, 1994;Krabbe & Schulenberg, 1997;Cuervo et al., 2005;Krabbe et al., 2005;Maurício, 2005;Bornschein et al., 2007;Donegan & Avendaño-C., 2008;Krabbe & Cadena, 2010;Whitney et al., 2010;Donegan et al., 2013;Hosner et al., 2013;Maurício et al., 2014;Avendaño & Donegan, 2015;Stiles et al., 2017), regional handbooks (Fjeldså & Krabbe, 1990;Ridgely & Greenfield, 2001;Hilty, 2003;Schulenberg et al., 2007;Herzog et al., 2016), and the Handbook of the Birds of the World (del Hoyo et al., 2018). Additionally, for 11 taxa we defined elevational distributions based on expert knowledge (A M. Cuervo, N. K. Krabbe, D. F. Lane, and T. S. Schulenberg, unpubl. ...
... Moreover, three of these species (S. femoralis, S. gettyae and S. acutirostris) belong to a group nested within clade I including several closely allied taxa with shallow divergence in mtDNA (Figure 3; Figure 5). The remaining two species found in this gradient belong to clade B (an unidentified taxon; Hosner et al., 2013) and clade H (S. atratus). Unpublished evidence indicates a seventh species (S. aff. ...
... The range of S. latrans in the Cerro de Montezuma is shown as a dot because it is only known from the very highest elevations in the area. Although the taxonomic identity of the species occurring at the highest elevations in the Satipo Valley gradient is uncertain, it very likely belongs to the clade depicted with the vertical line on the tree (Hosner et al., 2013). ...
Tropical mountains are biodiversity hotspots. In particular, mountains in the Neotropics exhibit remarkable beta diversity reflecting species turnover along gradients of elevation. Elevational replacements of species are known since early surveys of the tropics, but data on how such replacements arise are scarce, limiting our understanding of mechanisms underlying patterns of diversity. We employed a phylogenetic framework to evaluate hypotheses accounting for the origin of elevational replacements in the genus Scytalopus (Rhinocryptidae), a speciose clade of passerine birds with limited dispersal abilities occurring broadly in the Neotropical montane region. We found that species of Scytalopus have relatively narrow elevational ranges, closely related species resemble each other in elevational distributions, and most species replacing each other along elevational gradients are distantly related to each other. Although we cannot reject the hypothesis that a few elevational replacements may reflect parapatric speciation along mountain slopes, we conclude that speciation in Scytalopus occurs predominantly in allopatry within elevational zones, with most elevational replacements resulting from secondary contact of formerly allopatric species. Our work suggests that accumulation of species diversity in montane environments reflects colonization processes even in dispersal-limited animals.
... Species of Scytalopus are no exception, showing remarkable turnover along some elevational transects, particularly in areas of high regional species richness. For example, on the western slope of the Andes of Colombia or on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes one may find 4-6 Scytalopus species with abutting elevational ranges (Stiles et al. 2017;Hosner et al. 2013). Given their poor dispersal abilities which presumably restrict gene flow along elevational gradients and preclude the crossing of deepand often dry-valleys or cool high-elevation passes, Scytalopus tapaculos would appear to be prime candidates for parapatric speciation on mountain slopes (Patton and Smith 1992). ...
... latrans, S. latrans subcinerus, and an undescribed taxon from Lambeyeque and Cajamarca, Peru, are all very similar in mtDNA. These taxa, however, are diagnosable morphologically and their songs are distinctive (Krabbe and Schulenberg 1997;Hosner et al. 2013). Some of them have parapatric distributions (S. latrans with S. micropterus, S. l. subcinereus with the Lambayeque-Cajamarca form, S. gettyae with S. acutirostris) and maintain their vocal integrity, which we believe is strong evidence of reproductive isolation. ...
We studied the phylogeny, biogeography and diversification of suboscine birds in the genus Scytalopus (Rhinocryptidae), a widespread, speciose, and taxonomically challenging group of Neotropical birds. We analyzed nuclear (exons, regions flanking ultraconserved elements) and mitochondrial (ND2) DNA sequence data for a taxonomically and geographically comprehensive sample of specimens collected from Costa Rica to Patagonia and eastern Brazil. We found that Scytalopus is a monophyletic group sister to Eugralla , and consists of three main clades roughly distributed in (1) the Southern Andes, (2) eastern Brazil, and (3) the Tropical Andes and Central America. The clades from the Southern Andes and Eastern Brazil are sister to each other. Despite their confusing overall uniformity in plumage coloration, body shape and overall appearance, rates of species accumulation through time in Scytalopus since the origin of the clade in the Late Miocene are unusually high compared to those of other birds, suggesting rapid non-adaptive diversification in the group which we attribute to their limited dispersal abilities making them speciation-prone and their occurrence in a complex landscape with numerous barriers promoting allopatric differentiation. Divergence times among species and downturns in species accumulation rates in recent times suggest that most speciation events in Scytalopus predate climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. Our analyses identified various cases of strong genetic structure within species and lack of monophyly of taxa, flagging populations which likely merit additional study to establish their taxonomic status. In particular, detailed analyses of species limits are due in S. parvirostris, S. latrans, S. speluncae , the S. atratus complex, and the Southern Andes clade.
... In the 1990s, a shift to a modern taxonomic approach integrating information from specimens, vocalizations, and geographical and ecological distributions, resulted in considerable advances in our understanding of species limits in the group (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Vielliard 1990, Whitney 1994, Krabbe and Schulenberg 1997. These efforts revealed that previously overlooked species replace each other sharply in different elevational zones and on different mountain slopes, and set the stage for additional assessments of the taxonomic status of populations, as well as descriptions of numerous new taxa (Coopmans et al. 2001, Cuervo et al. 2005, Maurício 2005, Raposo et al. 2006, Bornschein et al. 2007, 1998, Donegan and Avendaño 2008, Krabbe and Cadena 2010, Whitney et al. 2010, Donegan et al. 2013, Hosner et al. 2013, Maurício et al. 2014, Avendaño and Donegan 2015, Stiles et al. 2017. Although more work is required to arrive at a classification of Scytalopus reflecting its true diversity, progress has been substantial: whereas Zimmer (1939) recognized 10 species in the genus-some of which are not considered valid or part of the genus any more-current taxonomic treatments recognize 44 (Krabbe and Schulenberg 2003, Remsen et al. 2018, Gill and Donsker 2019. ...
... Species of Scytalopus are no exception, showing remarkable turnover along some elevational transects, particularly in areas of high regional species richness. For example, on the western slope of the Andes of Colombia or on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes, one may find 4-6 Scytalopus species with abutting elevational ranges (Hosner et al. 2013, Stiles et al. 2017. Given their poor dispersal abilities, which presumably restrict gene flow along elevational gradients and preclude the crossing of deep-and often dry-valleys or cool highelevation passes, Scytalopus tapaculos would appear to be prime candidates for parapatric speciation on mountain slopes (Patton and Smith 1992). ...
... In the 1990s, a shift to a modern taxonomic approach integrating information from specimens, vocalizations, and geographical and ecological distributions, resulted in considerable advances in our understanding of species limits in the group (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Vielliard 1990, Whitney 1994, Krabbe and Schulenberg 1997. These efforts revealed that previously overlooked species replace each other sharply in different elevational zones and on different mountain slopes, and set the stage for additional assessments of the taxonomic status of populations, as well as descriptions of numerous new taxa (Coopmans et al. 2001, Cuervo et al. 2005, Maurício 2005, Raposo et al. 2006, Bornschein et al. 2007, 1998, Donegan and Avendaño 2008, Krabbe and Cadena 2010, Whitney et al. 2010, Donegan et al. 2013, Hosner et al. 2013, Maurício et al. 2014, Avendaño and Donegan 2015, Stiles et al. 2017. Although more work is required to arrive at a classification of Scytalopus reflecting its true diversity, progress has been substantial: whereas Zimmer (1939) recognized 10 species in the genus-some of which are not considered valid or part of the genus any more-current taxonomic treatments recognize 44 (Krabbe and Schulenberg 2003, Remsen et al. 2018, Gill and Donsker 2019. ...
... Species of Scytalopus are no exception, showing remarkable turnover along some elevational transects, particularly in areas of high regional species richness. For example, on the western slope of the Andes of Colombia or on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes, one may find 4-6 Scytalopus species with abutting elevational ranges (Hosner et al. 2013, Stiles et al. 2017. Given their poor dispersal abilities, which presumably restrict gene flow along elevational gradients and preclude the crossing of deep-and often dry-valleys or cool highelevation passes, Scytalopus tapaculos would appear to be prime candidates for parapatric speciation on mountain slopes (Patton and Smith 1992). ...
We studied the phylogeny, biogeography, and diversification of suboscine passerines in the genus Scytalopus (Rhinocryptidae), a widespread, species-rich, and taxonomically challenging group of Neotropical birds. We analyzed nuclear (exons, regions flanking ultraconserved elements) and mitochondrial (ND2) DNA sequence data for a taxonomically and geographically comprehensive sample of specimens collected from Costa Rica to Patagonia and Brazil. We found that Scytalopus is a monophyletic group sister to Eugralla and consists of 3 main clades roughly distributed in (1) the Southern Andes, (2) eastern Brazil, and (3) the Tropical Andes and Central America. The clades from the Southern Andes and eastern Brazil are sister to each other. Despite their confusing uniformity in plumage coloration, body shape, and overall appearance, rates of species accumulation through time in Scytalopus since the origin of the clade in the Late Miocene are unusually high compared with those of other birds, suggesting rapid non-adaptive diversification in the group. We attribute this to their limited dispersal abilities making them speciation-prone and their occurrence in a complex landscape with numerous barriers promoting allopatric differentiation. Divergence times among species and downturns in species accumulation rates in recent times suggest that most speciation events in Scytalopus predate climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. Our analyses identified various cases of strong genetic structure within species and lack of monophyly of taxa, flagging populations which likely merit additional study to clarify their taxonomic status. In particular, detailed analyses of species limits are due in S. parvirostris, S. latrans, S. speluncae, the S. atratus complex, and the Southern Andes clade.
... Taxonomy is complicated, with c.40 species currently recognised 24 and many geographically isolated taxa awaiting formal description based on molecular and vocal analyses 17,18,29 . Many species have been only recently described or split 6,7,15,16,19,20,22 . ...
... comm.) placed deep inside a rocky crevice, but other species probably also do so, given the diversity of Scytalopus found above the treeline in rocky habitats 15,24 . Finally, only S. superciliaris 28 , S. affinis (J. ...
... These observations suggest a protracted breeding season with an increase in activity in early August and a peak of activity coinciding with the onset of the rainy season (typically Nov), followed by a marked drop-off in breeding activity in January-June. These observations generally coincide with the primary breeding season determined at other sites in central and southern Peru (Robbins et al. 2011(Robbins et al. , 2013. ...
... The Tutumbaro specimens of A. viridicauda are the first documented records for Ayacucho, although the species was known to the north in northern Junín and east of the Apurímac in Cuzco . These similar species overlap broadly in distribution in Peru, and appear to show seasonal movements (Robbins et al. 2013). Molecular data are needed to help clarify the status and taxonomy of these confusing taxa. ...
The sliver of humid tropical and montane forest on the east slope of the Andes in Ayacucho Department ranks among the least surveyed sectors of the Peruvian Andes. This mountainous region, along with adjacent Apurímac Department and western Cuzco Department, comprise the Apurímac River Valley, a putative biogeographic barrier. Hence, understanding avian distributions in the vicinity of the Apurímac River Valley is fundamental to understanding faunal turnover across it. Here, we report results of recent avifaunal surveys (2008–2012) from five sites in the Apurímac Valley region. We report 35 bird species previously undocumented in Ayacucho, six of which represent range extensions, including records of the endemic Black-spectacled Brush-Finch (Atlapetes melanopsis), Marcapata Spinetail (Cranioleuca marcapatae), and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch (Poospiza caesar); the remaining records filled perceived range gaps. Specimen evidence suggests little phenotypic introgression between differentiated forms across the region, except for apparent introgression zones in Superciliaried Hemispingus (Hemispingus superciliaris) and Mountain Cacique (Cacicus chrysonotus); these observations uphold the idea that the Apurímac River Valley functions to isolate bird populations. Specimens of two Grallaria sp. and one Scytalopus sp. may represent new taxa, two of which appear to be endemic to Ayacucho (the third extends into adjacent Junín Department). More generally, montane forest bird species richness and avian endemism in eastern Ayacucho are similar to those of Cuzco and Pasco departments; previous assessments that considered Ayacucho as an area of reduced diversity were misled by sparse sampling effort.
... The Neotropical avian genus Scytalopus has a long history of taxonomic problems, primarily resulting from the relative uniformity of morphology throughout the genus, which poses several limitations for classification of the component taxa (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Whitney 1994, Krabbe and Schulenberg 1997. In the past 2 decades, following the study of other character sources (vocalizations and genetics) in combination with morphology, no fewer than 12 species have been described, with a number of other taxa having been elevated to the species rank (Whitney 1994, Krabbe and Schulenberg 1997, Bornschein et al. 1998, Cuervo et al. 2005, Maurício 2005, Raposo et al. 2006, Krabbe and Cadena 2010, Fjeldså 2013, Hosner et al. 2013. ...
... The homology of this call type through the populations of these 2 taxa is supported by the similarity in harmonic structure (3 or 4 harmonics), general spectrographic signature (clear upward-downward frequency modulation), temporal organization (mean pace 22-26 notes s À1 ), frequency distribution (fundamental generally ,2 kHz; Table 2 and Figure 6), and aural quality (as evaluated in the field or in recordings). We found no similarly harmonic-rich and fastpaced call in the descriptions and spectrograms of other Scytalopus spp., including Andean tapaculos (Whitney 1994, Krabbe and Schulenberg 1997, Bornschein et al. 1998, Cuervo et al. 2005, Maurício 2005, Krabbe and Cadena 2010, Hosner et al. 2013. Therefore, we hypothesize that the ''kreew'' call may be a synapomorphy for a S. speluncae þ S. gonzagai sp. ...
An isolated population of tapaculos attributed to Scytalopus speluncae has been known from the mountains of southeastern Bahia state, Brazil, since the early 1990s, and a second isolated population was discovered in 1999. Morphological and bioacoustic analyses of 11 specimens and several tape recordings indicated that these populations represent a new species, in agreement with a previous molecular phylogenetic study. This species is unambiguously
distinguished from its closest relatives by 4 suites of characters: (1) morphometrics–body proportions, (2) plumage color, (3) vocalizations, and (4) genetics. Using each of these character sets, separately or in combination, one can distinguish with 100% confidence the new species from its sister lineages. The new species is known from only 5 localities distributed in 2 distinct mountain ranges, 1 on the eastern slopes of the Planalto da Conquista, between the municipalities of Boa Nova and Igua´ı, and another in the Serra das Lontras, ~100 km to the southeast and only 37 km
from the coast. The new species primarily inhabits undisturbed montane forest, from 660 to 1,140 m a.s.l. We estimated an area of occupancy of the species of only 5,885 ha and a density of 0.49 individuals ha1
, resulting in a total estimated population of 2,883 individuals. Forest remnants are under severe pressure from clandestine timber extraction and outright deforestation. Under IUCN criteria, this new species should be classified as ‘‘Endangered.’’
... Th e high number of undescribed species is not surprising considering the generally low collection density of vascular plants in the Andes (Distler et al. 2009). New discoveries continue to be made even in taxonomically better-known groups such as birds (Hosner et al. 2013; Seeholzer et al. 2012), lizards (Venegas et al. 2013), and mammals (Jiménez et al. 2013; Helgen et al. 2013). It is clear that further collections are needed to completely describe the area's biodiversity and to fully understand species distributions in the Andes. ...
... Our example demonstrates that the MBS approach can be used even in more complex and poorly collected areas such as the Andes, and can greatly help in increasing our knowledge of species distribution patterns in highly diverse systems. It is clear from the continuing rates of species discovery in plants (Joppa et al. 2011) as well as in mammals and birds in the tropical Andes (Hosner et al. 2013; Seeholzer et al. 2012; Jiménez et al. 2013; Helgen et al. 2013) that tools such as SDM should be used to predict diversity patterns from the existing sparse data. ...
A new species of Solanum sect. Solanum from Peru is described here. Solanum pseudoamericanum Särkinen, Gonzáles & S.Knapp sp. nov. is a member of the Morelloid clade of Solanum, and is characterized by the combination of mostly forked inflorescences, flowers with small stamens 2.5 mm long including the filament, and strongly exerted styles with capitate stigmas. The species was first thought to be restricted to the seasonally dry tropical forests of southern Peru along the dry valleys of Río Pampas and Río Apurímac. Results from species distribution modelling (SDM) analysis with climatic predictors identified further potential suitable habitat areas in northern and central Peru. These areas were visited during field work in 2013. A total of 17 new populations across the predicted distribution were discovered using the model-based sampling method, and five further collections were identified amongst herbarium loans. Although still endemic to Peru, Solanum pseudoamericanum is now known from across northern, central and southern Peru. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of SDM for predicting new occurrences of rare plants, especially in the Andes where collection densities are still low in many areas and where many new species remain to be discovered.
... However, the taxonomy of Scytalopus was massively rearranged by the monumental work of Krabbe and Schulenberg (1997), which provided an exhaustive study of spectrograms and the consequent recognition of most populations whose vocalizations were diagnostic as species-level entities. Following this method, many subsequent investigations have clarified other taxonomic questions and at the same time discovered new species (Avendaño et al. 2015;Bornschein et al. 1998, Coopmans et al. 2001, Cuervo et al. 2005Hosner 2013Hosner , 2015Krabbe et al. 2005, Krabbe andCadena 2010;Maurício 2005, Maurício et al. 2014Raposo et al. 2006;Whitney et al. 2010). ...
The Scytalopus superciliaris complex consists of three recognized taxa: the Zimmer´s Tapaculo Scytalopus zimmeri in Bolivia and Argentina, and the Argentina endemic White-browed Tapaculo S. superciliaris with subspecies superciliaris and santabarbarae, while its southernmost population has a distinctive plumage but remains vocally unknown. Scytalopus zimmeri has been considered as an intermediate taxon between Puna Tapaculo S. simonsi and S. superciliaris based on plumage characters and vocalizations; and potential hybrids between S. zimmeri and S. simonsi were reported from two localities in Bolivia. We characterized the geographic variation in plumages and vocalizations of the S. superciliaris complex and S. simonsi, and describe a new pale and large subspecies, S. superciliaris ambatensis from the Ambato and Velasco ranges. All studied forms were allopatric. The three subspecies of S. superciliaris inhabit different sub-Andean mountain ranges. Two allopatric plumage forms of S. simonsi (northern, Peru and Bolivia; and southern, Bolivia) and two of S. zimmeri (northern, Bolivia; and southern, Bolivia and Argentina), occur on the eastern slope of the Andes. We reject the existence of hybridization between the allopatric S. zimmeri and S. simonsi; presumed hybrids pertain to normal southern S. simonsi based on plumage and vocalizations. All S. superciliaris taxa had similar songs and calls over 600 km. Songs and calls of S. superciliaris, southern S. zimmeri and both S. simonsi populations are diagnostic and support their recognition as different species, while northern zimmeri remains vocally unknown. The southern and northern populations of S. simonsi differ vocally, the latter possibly being an undescribed species.
... Birdsong is now recognized to be a sexually selected mating signal (Catchpole and Slater 2008), and there is increasing evidence that song divergence between populations may promote reproductive isolation even when morphology and plumage vary little Irwin 2008, Dingle et al. 2010). Indeed, many cryptic species in both temperate and tropical regions have recently been described based primarily upon vocal differences (e.g., Toews and Irwin 2008, O'Neill et al. 2011, Hosner et al. 2013). However, a lack of range-wide data on vocalizations, particularly from hybrid or contact zones, means that taxonomic relationships remain unclear even for widespread species (e.g., González et al. 2011). ...
The biodiversity of the Neotropics is considerable, but it is likely underestimated owing to gaps in sampling effort and a focus on using morphological features of animals to determine species differences rather than divergence in their mating signals and behavior. Recent multi-trait analyses incorporating morphological, plumage, and vocal data have allowed for more accurate quantification of tropical biodiversity. We present a comprehensive study of morphological features, plumage, and vocalizations of the Neotropical resident Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons). This species’ taxonomic status is controversial because the B. r. salvini subspecies is intermediate in plumage coloration between the neighboring B. r. delattrii and B. r. rufifrons subspecies. Using morphological and spectral plumage measurements of field and museum specimens, as well as analyses of vocalizations from field recordings and sound libraries, we compared phenotypes of all 8 currently recognized Rufous-capped Warbler subspecies, with an emphasis on delattrii, rufifrons, and salvini. We found that delattrii and rufifrons differ significantly in morphology and plumage, and that salvini is similar to rufifrons in morphology and some plumage features. Vocalizations fall into 2 distinct groups, delattrii and rufifrons-salvini, which differ in multiple spectro-temporal characteristics with no overlap between them, even among individuals in the delattrii–rufifrons zone of sympatry. Our results therefore suggest that Rufous-capped Warblers comprise 2 distinct groups: Rufous-capped Warblers (B. r. rufifrons and salvini as well as B. r. caudatus, dugesi, and jouyi) and Chestnut-capped Warblers (B. r. delattrii as well as B. r. actuosus and mesochrysus). Future genomic analysis of samples from multiple sites in Mexico and Central America will further refine our assessment of range-wide phenotypic and genetic divergence in this species complex.
... Elsewhere, such as in Bolivia, Venezuela, and parts of western Ecuador and Peru, there are fewer species and their elevational ranges are broader. That as many as 6 species can replace each other elevationally along the Amazonian slope in central Peru was shown by the discovery of Scytalopus gettyae (Hosner et al. 2013), together with later evidence (xeno-canto.org; XC229596) that S. parvirostris occurs rarely or locally on the same slope. ...
Tropical mountains feature marked species turnover along elevational gradients and across complex topography, resulting in great concentrations of avian biodiversity. In these landscapes, particularly among morphologically conserved and difficult to observe avian groups, species limits still require clarification. One such lineage is Scytalopus tapaculos, which are among the morphologically most conserved birds. Attention to their distinctive vocal repertoires and phylogenetic relationships has resulted in a proliferation of newly identified species, many of which are restricted range endemics. Here, we present a revised taxonomy and identify species limits among high-elevation populations of Scytalopus tapaculos inhabiting the Peruvian Andes. We employ an integrated framework using a combination of vocal information, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and appearance, gathered from our own fieldwork over the past 40 yr and supplemented with community-shared birdsong archives and museum specimens. We describe 3 new species endemic to Peru. Within all 3 of these species there is genetic differentiation, which in 2 species is mirrored by subtle geographic plumage and vocal variation. In a fourth species, Scytalopus schulenbergi, we document deep genetic divergence and plumage differences despite overall vocal similarity. We further propose that an extralimital taxon, Scytalopus opacus androstictus, be elevated to species rank, based on a diagnostic vocal character. Our results demonstrate that basic exploration and descriptive work using diverse data sources continues to identify new species of birds, particularly in tropical environs.
... The lack of knowledge on bird distribution in the Neotropics has been frequently cited, as information is gathered at a slow pace and is often incomplete or unbalanced (Vuilleumier 2000, Rojas-Soto and Oliveras de Ita 2005, Freeman et al. 2012. The continual extension of the distributions of known species for this region and the frequent description of new bird species demonstrate the need to continue distributional studies of birds (Vuilleumier et al. 1992, Cuervo et al. 2003, Hilty et al. 2013, Hosner et al. 2013. Although the distributional area of a species is not static in time or space (Rapoport and Monjeau 2003), in Neotropical regions the loss of natural habitats, largely due to anthropogenic activities, has further modified distribution areas at a rapid pace. ...
We present a list of noteworthy distribution records for 12 bird species in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, which were observed and captured during field work from 2006–2013 in different environments. One of the records (Setophaga citrina) is new to the state, and observations of an additional five species (e.g., Pelecanus erythrorynchos, Mycteria americana, Setophaga dominica) have expanded their geographical distribution to biotic provinces where their presence was previously unrecorded. The presence of another six species (e.g., Elanus leucurus, Setophaga palmarum) with scarce distributional information was confirmed. Records presented in this scientific note highlight the importance of continuing inventory work in unexplored environments, and even in areas that are apparently well-surveyed. Coupled with biogeography, taxonomy and ecology studies, such studies will help to improve the understanding of the natural history of birds and their means of conservation.
... The lack of knowledge on bird distribution in the Neotropics has been frequently cited, as information is gathered at a slow pace and is often incomplete or unbalanced (Vuilleumier 2000, Rojas-Soto and Oliveras de Ita 2005, Freeman et al. 2012. The continual extension of the distributions of known species for this region and the frequent description of new bird species demonstrate the need to continue distributional studies of birds (Vuilleumier et al. 1992, Cuervo et al. 2003, Hilty et al. 2013, Hosner et al. 2013. Although the distributional area of a species is not static in time or space (Rapoport and Monjeau 2003), in Neotropical regions the loss of natural habitats, largely due to anthropogenic activities, has further modified distribution areas at a rapid pace. ...
We present a list of noteworthy distribution records for 12 bird species in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, which were observed and captured during field work from 2006-2013 in different environments. One of the records (Setophaga citrina) is new to the state, and observations of an additional five species (e.g., Pelecanus erythrorynchos, Mycteria americana, Setophaga dominica) have expanded their geographical distribution to biotic provinces where their presence was previously unrecorded. The presence of another six species (e.g., Elanus leucurus, Setophaga palmarum) with scarce distributional information was confirmed. Records presented in this scientific note highlight the importance of continuing inventory work in unexplored environments, and even in areas that are apparently well-surveyed. Coupled with biogeography, taxonomy and ecology studies, such studies will help to improve the understanding of the natural history of birds and their means of conservation.
... Species limits within the genus are problematic because of the morphological homogeneity of different populations, which masks a rich diversity, only detected in recent decades via vocal and genetic studies. Since vocalisations are believed to be innate and distinctive among genetically divergent Scytalopus species, and vocal differentiation tracks molecular differentiation more so than morphology (Arctander & Fjeldså 1994), the number of recognised species of Scytalopus has increased dramatically from ten in the mid 1990s to more than 40 today (Krabbe & Schulenberg 1997; see also, e.g., Krabbe & Schulenberg 2003, Krabbe & Cadena 2010, Hosner et al. 2013. Four new Scytalopus taxa have been described from Colombia since the late 1990s: Chocó Tapaculo S. chocoensis (Krabbe & Schulenberg 1997), Upper Magdalena Tapaculo S. rodriguezi , Stiles' Tapaculo S. stilesi (Cuervo et al. 2005) and a subspecies of Pale-bellied Tapaculo S. griseicollis gilesi (Donegan & Avendaño 2008). ...
Upper Magdalena Tapaculo Scytalopus rodriguezi was described (in 2005) as restricted to the headwaters of the Magdalena Valley in dpto. Huila, Colombia. Here we describe a new but related taxon from the Serranía de los Yariguíes, dpto. Santander, Colombia, c.580 km to the north, which differs in its darker dorsal coloration, shorter tail, smaller body, lower mass and lower pitched song with reduced frequency bandwidth in its notes.
... For instance, the number of avian lineages in the tropics is thought to be greater than is currently recognized (Milá et al. 2012). Furthermore, recent findings of new bird species (e.g., Lara et al. 2012, Seeholzer et al. 2012, Hosner et al. 2013, along with revisions to the taxonomic status of many other species (e.g., Chesser et al. 2012Chesser et al. , 2013, clearly indicate that further research in this field is required (Brumfield 2012). ...
Phenotypic traits are important for assessing differences between populations, especially in groups with poorly resolved taxonomy. One such group, the House Wren complex, presents extensive taxonomic controversy and is thought to comprise many independent evolutionary units. Although the songs and morphological features of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) show extensive variation, differences between populations have not been quantified. We assessed variation in acoustic and morphometric traits within this complex and compared patterns of variation with currently recognized subspecies boundaries. First, we compared songs and morphology among eight recognized subspecies (T. a. aedon, T. a. parkmanii, T. a. cahooni, T. a. brunneicoffis, T. a. nitidus, T. a. musculus, T. a. beani, and T. a. rufescens), controlling for significant effects of latitude. Second, we used variation in male song, a trait with an important role in mate choice and male-male competition, to assess divergence among subspecies. We compared variation among subspecies to variation across seven currently recognized Troglodytes species (T. hiemalis, T. pacificus, T. tanneri, T. sissonii, T. cobbi, T. rufociliatus, and T. ochraceus). Our results, based on broad sampling of songs (n = 786) and morphological traits (n = 401) from 609 locations throughout the Americas, show that most of the subspecies examined diverge in song, morphology, or both. In addition, the acoustic differences between subspecies are similar to, and in some instances greater than, the divergence between pairs of currently recognized species. Our results suggest that at least four allopatric subspecies T. a. nitidus, T. a. musculus, T. a. bean!, and T. a. rufescens are likely different species, and we identify many other vocally and morphologically differentiated subspecies that may, upon further detailed genetic analysis, result in new species.
A survey of recent taxonomic studies of birds that included acoustic trait analyses reveals that most studies have not archived the sound recordings that support their conclusions, despite the current availability of online, publicly available collections of bird sounds. In addition, bird sound recordings have often been cited without unique accession numbers that permit unambiguous sample identification and in considerably less detail than other types of samples, such as museum specimens or genetic samples. Both this lack of data openness and the way acoustic samples have been cited undermine the methodological rigor that otherwise characterizes many of these studies, and much invaluable biological data are likely to be lost over time if bird sound recordings are not archived in long-term collections. I suggest that these problems can be easily addressed by embracing the open data movement and adopting some best practices that are widely used in other fields. Just as study skins and DNA sequences are required to be deposited in publicly available collections such as natural history museums and the GenBank, respectively, sound recordings used in taxonomic studies with acoustic trait analyses should be archived in publicly available collections as a condition for publication of associated results. Authors of taxonomic studies involving sounds should archive their sound recordings and provide unique accession numbers for sound recordings examined, and journals and reviewers should ensure that authors have done so. By embracing the open data movement, research studying avian acoustic signals is expected to become more transparent, reproducible, and useful.
La clasificación actual de los representantes de rinocríptidos chilenos incluyen ocho especies. Tres de ellos incluyen subespecies que no exhiben claras diferencias. Además, diferencias morfológicas, ecológicas y conductuales entre dos linajes hermanos del género Scytalopus y dos especies del género Pteroptochos que habitan en el sur de Chile (P.tarnii y P.castaneus) son difusos. Nosotros postulamos que no hay un criterio de separación que permita establecer diferencias subespecificas entre los linajes hermanos de: Scelorchilus albicollis, S.rubecula y P. megapodius de la actúal clasificación. En este trabajo, proponemos una nueva metodología basada en patrones ecologicos, conductuales y fenotipo del plumaje que permitan entender el concepto de especiación en este grupo de aves. Nuestros resultados revelan cómo disminuyen las distancias entre especies hermanas de este grupo de aves al integrar aspectos conductuales anexados a nichos ecológicos y caracteres fenotipicos del color del plumaje en el cladograma en relación a un grupo hermano, (fuera de grupo) representado por la especie de la familia de los Furnariidae del género Cinclodes: Cinclodes oustaleti (churrete chico), proponiendo una baja tasa de especiación en este grupo de aves. En general nosotros proponemos que la familia de rinocríptidos y otras linajes hermanos de paseriformes (e.g. Formicariidae, Conopophagidae, Thamnophiladiae, Atrichornithidae, Grallariidae, Pittidae) contienen un llenado de nichos parecidos y una evolución convergente. Además proponemos homoplasia en los modos de vida.
This report is the ninth one of a series and presents the results of a comprehensive literature screening in search for new bird taxa described in 2013, namely new genera, species and subspecies worldwide. We tracked names of ten genera, 25 species and three subspecies (one additional for 2010) new to science which, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature were correctly described. On the basis of molecular genetic analyses new genera for species or species groups were proposed within Columbidae (2), Pipridae (1), and Thamnophilidae (7). Though various species concepts are concerned and "species" may have differing biological meanings, the number of 25 new bird species described in a single year is extraordinarily high. It is unsurpassed at least within the last hundred years. The new species refer to Hydrobatidae (1), Tytonidae (1), Strigidae (2), Bucconidae (1), Tyrannidae (1), Pipromorphidae (2), Thamnophilidae (5), Rhinocryptidae (1), Dendrocolaptidae (4), Furnariidae (1), Corvidae (1), Cisticolidae (1), Timaliidae (1), Polioptilidae (1), Passerellidae (1), and Thraupidae (1). Five of the new species described refer to Non-Passeriformes, the remainder 20 species to Passeriformes. In several cases the populations in question now considered to represent a new species were known since long. But only substantial studies of their songs, genetics and/or ecology led to description of new formerly unrecognized species. Most cases refer to the Neotropics.The distributional areas of the new species often are minute, restricted to remote and difficultly to access areas, often small islands and were hitherto overlooked due to their similarity to closely related species. Due to their limited ranges species new to science are often already endangered when detected. In a taxon sequence by genus/species/subspecies the newly described taxa have following origin: Neotropics (10/20/2), Palaearctic (-/1/2; one already in 2010) and Indo-Malaya (0/4/0). A number of splits, namely those of known species into allospecies as the geographic representatives of a superspecies are also addressed, but these are restricted to the Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan regions. Such splits markedly influenced species numbers especially in the Alcedinidae (kingfishers, Ceyx) and in the Pycnonotidae (bulbuls, Thapsinillas). We discuss possible flaws in new descriptions and certain splits, regardless of the species concept addressed. However, in general this report should be taken as a documentation of new taxa, not as a critical review of recent changes in bird taxonomy and bird descriptions.
This report is the ninth one of a series and presents the results of a comprehensive literature screening in search for new bird taxa described in 2013, namely new genera, species and subspecies worldwide. We tracked names of ten genera, 25 species and three subspecies (one additional for 2010) new to science which, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature were correctly described. On the basis of molecular genetic analyses new genera for species or species groups were proposed within Columbidae (2), Pipridae (1), and Thamnophilidae (7). Though various species concepts are concerned and “species” may have differing biological meanings, the number of 25 new bird species described in a single year is extraordinarily high. It is unsurpassed at least within the last hundred years. The new species refer to Hydrobatidae (1), Tytonidae (1), Strigidae (2), Bucconidae (1), Tyrannidae (1), Pipromorphidae (2), Thamnophilidae (5), Rhinocryptidae (1), Dendrocolaptidae (4), Furnariidae (1), Corvidae (1), Cisticolidae (1), Timaliidae (1), Polioptilidae (1), Passerellidae (1), and Thraupidae (1). Five of the new species described refer to Non-Passeriformes, the remainder 20 species to Passeriformes. In several cases the populations in question now considered to represent a new species were known since long. But only substantial studies of their songs, genetics and/or ecology led to description of new formerly unrecognized species. Most cases refer to the Neotropics.The distributional areas of the new species often are minute, restricted to remote and difficultly to access areas, often small Islands and were hitherto overlooked due to their similarity to closely related species. Due to their limited ranges species new to science are often already endangered when detected. In a taxon sequence by genus/species/subspecies the newly described taxa have following origin: Neotropics (10/20/2), Palaearctic (-/1/2; one already in 2010) and Indo-Malaya (0/4/0). A number of splits,
namely those of known species into allospecies as the geographic representatives of a superspecies are also addressed, but These are restricted to the Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan regions. Such splits markedly influenced species numbers especially in the Alcedinidae (kingfishers, Ceyx) and in the Pycnonotidae (bulbuls, Thapsinillas). We discuss possible flaws in new descriptions and certain splits, regardless of the species concept addressed. However, in general this report should be taken as a documentation of new taxa, not as a critical review of recent changes in bird taxonomy and bird descriptions.
We examined the phylogeography of the Western Hemispheric Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) which occurs in grasslands from Canada to Tierra del Fuego. Genetic data indicate that Sedge Wren is paraphyletic with Mérida (Cistothorus meridae) and Apolinar's (Cistothorus apolinari) wrens and the currently recognized Sedge Wren is composed of a minimum of eight species. Speciation within this complex appears to have accelerated with the formation of the Isthmus of Panama which enabled the ancestor to occupy and differentiate in grassland habitats from sea level to above tree line in the Andes on the South American continent. As a result of the dramatic, negative anthropogenic impact on grasslands across the entire Western Hemisphere all species have suffered substantial declines and several are now threatened.
The polytypic species concept unites populations that theoretically could and would interbreed were the opportunity to arise-This concept places the burden of proof of reproductive in-capability and species status on those claiming species or higher rank. Advances in our understanding of the nature of reproductive isolation, the genetics of speciation, the limited role of gene flow, the power of directional selection, and the dynamics of hybridization support a different null hypothesis for taxonomic decisions, one that places the burden of proof on 'lumping' rather than on 'splitting' taxa at the species level. Switching the burden of proof provides an improved conceptual basis for the recognition of many allopatric island taxa and subspecies groups that merit species status. Taxonomic revisions based on these advances predictably confirm that distinct sister populations once lumped as polytypic species are independent evolutionary lineages that exhibit essential reproductive isolation. Release from the concerns about hybridization also positions proposed species for timely taxonomic decisions. The stage is set to proactively redefine polytypic species to separate component species for the 21' century. The improved species classification will better reflect phylogeny and evolutionary status, characterize biodiversity more accurately, guide improved sampling patterns of bird populations for systematic studies, and enable informed conservation decisions.
We describe Scytalopus stilesi, an overlooked species of tapaculo endemic to Colombia, on the basis of a series of eight specimens taken in 2002 and comparative analyses of its vocalizations, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and distribution. The new species ranges in the northern half of the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes in the Departments of Antioquia, Caldas, and Risaralda, in cloud forests between 1,420 and 2,130 m above sea level. The song, calls, and female song of the new species differ distinctly from those of all other known Scytalopus taxa. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the cytochrome-b gene strongly suggest affinities with S. robbinsi of southwestern Ecuador and with two as-yet-undescribed tapaculos from the Colombian Andes. Scytalopus stilesi coexists locally with, though it is ecologically segregated from, S. atratus, S. latrans, and S. spillmanni. The mid-elevation premontane wet forests to which the new species is restricted have been subject to severe deforestation and fragmentation. The species is, however, relatively common in continuous mature-forest remnants, large primary-forest fragments, riparian forests, and tall secondary-forest patches. We employed a geographic information system (GIS) approach to model the potential distribution of the new species and assess its conservation status under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Scytalopus stilesi does not qualify as threatened according to those criteria, but it should be regarded as near threatened. The new species coexists with numerous threatened bird species that are in need of more effective conservation.
The nominate subspecies of the Paramo Tapaculo (Scytalopus canus Chapman), which is restricted to high elevations of the Western Andes of Colombia, differs substantially in song from S. c. opacus from the Central Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. In accordance with current taxonomy of the genus, which is primarily based on differences in song, we assign species rank to both taxa. Within opacus, birds from southernmost Ecuador and northernmost Peru sing like northern opacus but call differently. They are indistinguishable morphologically except for a white patch in the wing present in 10 out of 12 of the adult males of the southern population. We describe this population as a new taxon and rank it as a subspecies of S. opacus. Genetically, S. canus, nominate S. opacus, and the new taxon are strongly differentiated (>5% divergence in mtDNA); the first two appear to be sister taxa.
We describe a new species of Scytalopus tapaculo from the southern section of the Espinhaço Range and other
points in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Scytalopus petrophilus sp. nov., Rock Tapaculo, occupies a variety of habitats between about 900 and 2,100 m elevation, from open, rocky shrub associations (campos rupestres) high in the mountains to taller forest in steepwalled valleys to second-growth of semi-deciduous woodland. Its morphology, vocalizations, and preliminary genetic profile place it solidly within the S. novacapitalis (Brasilia Tapaculo) complex, joining that species, S. pachecoi (Planalto Tapaculo), and the newly described S. diamantinensis (Diamantina Tapaculo). S. petrophilus is phenotypically diagnosed from its allospecies by combinations
of morphological and vocal characters.
The taxonomy of the genus Scytalopus (Aves; Rhinocryptidae) is revised. Full descriptions of the 10 Ecuadorian taxa are given, with some indication of their annual cycle, and details of their vocalizations, habitats, and geographical distribution. Notes are given on all extralimital forms, and a new taxonomy based on vocal data, and often supported by new distributional and genetic data, is proposed. The number of species in the genus rises from 11 to 37, two or three of which remain unnamed. Two additional populations are identified as being distinct, but their geographical distributions have not been satisfactorily delimited. Sonagrams of most taxa are presented. Three new species are named and described. Full species status is proposed for most taxa ranked as subspecies by Zimmer (1939) and Peters (1951). Several of these species have sympatric distributions, and others have different songs. Allopatric taxa with the same body mass and elevational distributions, and with relatively similar, but yet distinctive songs are united into superspecies. /// Se revisa la taxonomía del género Scytalopus (Aves; Rhinocryptidae), uno de los géneros más problemáticos del mundo. Se dan descripciones completas de los 10 taxa ecuatorianos, con algunas indicaciones sobre su ciclo anual, y detalles de sus vocalizaciones, habitats, y distribución geográfica. También se dan notas sobre todas las formas extralimitales, y se propone una nueva taxonomía basada en datos de vocalizaciones, en muchos casos respaldados por nuevos registros geográficos y análisis genéticos. El número de especies en este género sube de 11 hasta 37, dos o tres de ellas permanecen innominanadas. Adicionalmente dos poblaciones han sido claramenete identificadas, pero su distribución geográfica todavía no está satisfactoriamente delimitada. Sonogramas de las vocalizaciones conocidas para casi todas las especies se presentan. Tres especies nuevas han sido nominadas y descritas. Se propone el status de especie para la mayoría de los taxa ubicados como subespecie por Zimmer (1939) y Peters (1951). Algunas de estas especies tienen distribuciones simpátricas, otras tienen cantos diferentes. Taxa allopátricos con el mismo peso corporal y la misma distribución altitudinal, y con cantos relativamente similares pero aún distintos, se agrupan en superespecies.
Some populations traditionally identified as Scytalopus speluncae populations in southern Brazil and Misiones, Argentina, actually represent an unnamed species, which is described in this paper. Field and museum studies showed that male plumage differs from traditional S. speluncae by the presence of black and buff barring over the flanks in all ages (absent in the adult male plumage of S. speluncae) and by having paler gray underparts. Also, this new species differs from S. speluncae by its slower paced song (2.01-3.36 notes/ s vs. 4.56-5.86 notes/s), by having two types of calls that differ in general structure and note shape from the calls of S. speluncae and by having an almost unique song type marked by the ending, in which it rapidly accelerates the pace into a trill (trill absent in S. speluncae). The new species also differs consistently in plumage and vocal characters from the other described taxa in the S. speluncae group, namely S. iraiensis and S. novacapitalis. The distribution of the new species encompasses three distinct areas: Serra do Sudeste (southern Rio Grande do Sul), the Argentinian Province of Misiones and adjacent areas of Brazil and the highest areas of the plateau (Planalto) of northeastern Rio Grande do Sul and southeastern Santa Catarina. Also, the data suggest that the "traditional" S. speluncae probably comprises other undescribed species, whose range would encompass the southern areas of the range admitted for S. speluncae (from São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul). The new species shares the accelerating song type mentioned above, which is apparently unique in the genus, with S. novacapitalis and populations in Minas Gerais (also possibly new species), suggesting that these species are more closely related to each other than to any other species in the genus. Taxonomic research on the group is still incipient and populations recently discovered in Minas Gerais and Bahia may be additional, unnamed species. However, analyses based upon few museum specimens and without vocal data are discouraged. Additionally, alternative biogeographic hypotheses to explain the origins and the diversification of the S. speluncae group are presented.
The historical relationships of ground antbirds and their relatives have long been unresolved. Here, I present a phylogenetic analysis of ground antbird (Formicariidae) relationships based on DNA sequence data from the cytochrome-b and ND2 genes. Results support novel hypotheses of historical relationships, including two revisions of suboscine taxonomy: (1) paraphyly of the Formicariidae with the tentative inclusion of at least some rhinocryptids (Liosceles, Rhinocrypta, and Scytalopus) in the ground antbird lineage, and (2) placement of Pittasoma with Conopophaga in the Conopophagidae.
Scytalopus speluncae was described from a specimen collected at São João del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The holotype is housed in St. Petersburg (Zoological Insti‑ tute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Figure 1A), and the plate accompanying the type description depicts a pale grey bird with a whitish throat ("devident blanchâtre vers le milieu de la gorge et de la poitrine"). Subsequently, Chrostowski (1921) analyzed the holotype and ampli‑ fied the type description by mentioning the presence of brown‑fringed feathers in the rump region, a feature that was thereafter confirmed by an analysis of the same speci‑ men by Raposo et al. (2006). In 1958, Helmut Sick, without having the oppor‑ tunity to analyze the holotype of Ménétriés, described Scytalopus indigoticus novacapitalis, which is nowadays considered a separate species (Krabble and Schulenberg, 2003) and is part of the S. speluncae complex. Sick (1958, 1960) admitted doubts as to which species to assign his new taxon. S. novacapitalis is light grey with brown‑ fringed feathers in the rump and flanks, being, in fact, morphologically almost identical to S. speluncae, accord‑ ing to the posterior analysis of Raposo et al. (2006, based on holotype and topotypes). But, at the time, Sick was able to compare S. novacapitalis only with the White‑ breasted Tapaculo S. indigoticus and with the dark gray Mouse‑colored Tapaculo of the Brazilian coastal ranges (the Serra do Mar), referred by him, and most other au‑ thors, to Scytalopus speluncae but since described as a dis‑ tinct species, Scytalopus notorius Raposo et al. 2006. In addition to being uniform dark grey, S. notorius lacks any trace of brown in the rump and flanks in adult males. At the time (1958), no topotype of S. speluncae was available to Sick, nor was such material in existence two years later when he prepared a second publication review‑ ing Brazilian Rhinocryptidae (Sick 1960), in which he elevated S. i. novacapitalis to specific status for the follow‑ ing reasons: morphology close to indigoticus (much less to speluncae, though with some elements of intermediacy), but nevertheless with important differences (some of which, such as the slightly shorter bill and shorter rump The genus Scytalopus Gould, 1837 (Rhinocrypti‑ dae), which as currently recognized comprises c.40 spe‑ cies (Krabbe and Schulenberg 2003, Cuervo et al. 2005, Krabbe et al. 2005, Raposo et al. 2006), is one of the most confusing amongst Neotropical suboscines, as it presents a strong tendency to respond morphologically and vocally to geographical barriers. Nevertheless, these morphological and vocal responses are usually very subtle, making attempts to understand the evolution of different populations, as well as their taxonomy, highly complicat‑ ed. To understand such a complex genus, strong method‑ ological and conceptual parameters are required from the phenomenological point of view (species concept, careful study of geographical variation etc.), as well as from a no‑ menclatural perspective, following a strict interpretation of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999). This commentary focuses on some recently de‑ scribed species that comprise the species complex Scy-talopus speluncae (Ménétriés, 1835) (Given that several alternative spellings exist in the ornithological literature for Ménétriés, namely the present spelling, as well as Ménétries and even Ménétriès, and that we have already been 'accused' once, by Bornschein et al. 2007, of mis‑ spelling his name, we take the opportunity to record that the international library standard spelling is Ménétriés, as followed here and our earlier publication, Raposo et al. 2006.). In writing a single commentary, we are motivated by the fact that virtually all of these descriptions share the same weakness, namely that they have singularly failed to compare their purported new taxa with the holotype that bears the senior name of the complex. Despite this, our commentary does not deal with the validity of those species per se; thus we do not seek to discuss the relative importance of the vocal, morphological and molecular characters used to support the erection of these new taxa. Instead, we seek to demonstrate that the lack of compari‑ son with the relevant holotype has led to serious problems in the nomenclatural basis underlying the diagnoses of three new species belonging to the speluncae complex. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia, 16(1):78-81 março de 2008 COMENTÁRIO
Scytalopus stilesi, una Nueva Especie de Tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae) de la Cordillera Central de Colombia.
Describimos a Scytalopus stilesi, una nueva especie de tapaculo endémica de Colombia, con base en una serie de ocho especímenes colectados en 2002 y en análisis comparativos de sus vocalizaciones, secuencias de ADN mitocondrial y distribución. La nueva especie se distribuye en la mitad norte de la Cordillera Central de los Andes colombianos en los departamentos de Antioquia, Caldas y Risaralda, en bosques de niebla entre 1,420 y 2,130 m de elevación. El canto, los reclamos y el canto de la hembra de la nueva especie difieren distintivamente de los de todos los taxa conocidos del género Scytalopus. Los análisis filogenéticos basados en secuencias del gen mitocondrial citocromo b sugieren fuertemente afinidades con S. robbinsi del suroccidente de Ecuador y con dos especies aún no descritas de los Andes colombianos. Scytalopus stilesi coexiste localmente con S. atratus, S. latrans y S. spillmanni, aunque se segrega ecológicamente de ellos por uso de hábitat. Los bosques premontanos húmedos de elevaciones medias a los cuales está restringida la nueva especie han sido objeto de una severa deforestación y fragmentación. Sin embargo, la especie es relativamente común en remanentes de bosques maduros continuos, fragmentos de bosque primario, bosques riparios y parches de bosque secundario avanzado. Empleamos un análisis basado en sistemas de información geográfica para modelar la distribución potencial de la nueva especie y evaluar su estado de conservación bajo los criterios de la IUCN. S. stilesi no califica como amenazada de acuerdo con estos criterios, pero debe ser considerada como casi amenazada. La nueva especie coexiste con numerosas especies de aves amenazadas que requieren un nivel de conservación más efectivo.
Teniendo en cuenta las múltiples diferencias en vocalizaciones que distinguen a seis poblaciones de Hypocnemis cantator que actualmente son consideradas como subespecies, es más adecuado reconocerlas como especies diferentes. Estas diferencias en vocalizaciones son iguales o mayores que las documentadas entre pares de especies sintópicas en la familia Thamnophilidae (Isler et al. 1998). También se provee evidencia de que dos formas actualmente consideradas subespecies son sintópicas, y que otras dos son parapátricas, sin barreras físicas evidentes. Vocalmente, el par de taxones sintópicos se diferenciaron dramáticamente, pero únicamente en sus llamadas comunes. El hallazgo de que las llamadas comunes están tan diferenciadas como los cantos en este grupo de especies sugiere que las llamadas pueden ser tan importantes como los cantos en el aislamiento reproductivo. Por lo tanto, estudios de campo futuros deberían enfocarse en aclarar la función de los distintos tipos de vocalizaciones de los Thamnophilidae, y en elucidar el papel que éstos juegan en la especiación. Esta es la primera contribución de un análisis con múltiples facetas de las vocalizaciones y la estructura genética de los Thamnophilidae en la Amazonía. En estudios futuros, los resultados de los análisis de vocalizaciones serán comparados con los de un estudio genético paralelo, para luego integrar los dos análisis y sugerir una filogenia. El presente estudio, junto con análisis preliminares de variación genética (e.g., Bates et al. 1999) indican claramente que el complejo de H. cantator ha tenido una historia evolutiva prolongada que produjo una mayor diversidad de especies que la que ha sido reconocida hasta ahora.
The Scytalopus populations occupying the Chapada Diamantina, state of Bahia, have been regarded as representing the same taxon found in the southern part of Serra do Espinhaço, in the state of Minas Gerais. However, on the basis of specimens obtained recently at Chapada Diamantina, we found that the local Scytalopus population is a new taxon distinct from any other known tapaculo. The new species is a member of the taxonomically
complex S. speluncae group, within which it is most closely related to S. novacapitalis, S. pachecoi, and Scytalopus sp. nov. from southern Serra do Espinhaço. It is diagnosable by vocal, plumage and molecular characters from all other Brazilian taxa. Although its song differs little from those of the closely related species, its calls are notably distinct. Pairwise uncorrected genetic distances between the new species described herein and S. novacapitalis, Scytalopus sp. nov. and S. pachecoi are 3.5, 4.5 and 5.0 respectively. The new species is presumably endemic to the Chapada Diamantina, where it inhabits forest (c. 10-25 m tall) and both old and very young second growth (c. 2-5 m tall), between 850 and 1,600 m a.s.l.
Scytalopus and the recently erected Eleoscytalopus are among the Neotropical groups of birds whose taxonomy is most difficult to resolve given their very conservative morphology. We investigated the phylogeny and species limits of Eleoscytalopus and the eastern Scytalopus using two mitochondrial genes and two nuclear introns of multiple individuals from all species of these groups. The eastern Scytalopus are separated in three well defined clades also supported by morphological or vocal characteristics, although the relationships between these clades could not be resolved. We found several allopatric and very divergent lineages in these genera whose characteristics are consistent with species-level divergence, especially in S.speluncae. The great divergence between E. psychopompus and its sister species supports the former as a valid species. Our results corroborate the importance of the Bahia refuge as an avian center of endemism.
The genus Scytalopus is a species-rich and taxonomically complicated component of the Neotropical avian family Rhinocryptidae. Probably because Scytalopus is a superficially uniform assemblage, its monophyly has not been seriously questioned. We investigated phylogenetic relationships of a representative set of species in the genus using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences as well as anatomical data, and provided the first test of its presumed monophyly by including in the analyses its hypothesized closest relatives (the genera Myornis, Eugralla, and Merulaxis) as well as most rhinocryptid genera. We found strong support for the paraphyly of the genus Scytalopus, with the Scytalopus indigoticus species-group forming a clade with Merulaxis. A well-supported clade including the genera Eugralla, Myornis, and the remaining Scytalopus was also recovered. Because these results were recovered independently and with strong support using mitochondrial and nuclear data, and were entirely consistent with anatomical data, we erect a new genus for the S.indigoticus species-group. These findings illustrate the importance of formally testing hypotheses of monophyly even for well-accepted groups of Neotropical birds.
In Bolivia in 1992 I tape-recorded and observed several individuals of an undescribed tapaculo of the systematically complex genus Scyfalopus in humid-temperate forest near the city of La Paz. During March 1993, Bolivian colleagues and I collected a series of the undescribed taxon from two geographically distinct regions of Depto. La Paz, and confirmed its presence as far south as Prov. Chapare, Depto. Cochabamba. The new species, the Diademed Tapaculo (Scyzalopus .schulenbergi), is described and its distribution and vocalizations are compared with some other members of the genus, mostly in Bolivia. 1 reexamine systematics of the magellanicus group and, based primarily upon striking and consistent vocal differences across the North Peruvian Low in northwestern Peru, I rec- ommend its division into two superspecies with the names magellanicus (southern popula- tions) and griseicollis (northern populations). Received 22 July 1993, accepted 20 Feb. 1994. The genus Scytalopus spans the entire range of the Andes (as well as the mountains of southern Central America and the mountains and iso- lated serras of eastern Brazil southward to Misiones, Argentina), and ap- pears to have undergone a particularly complex speciation (Zimmer 1939; Fjeldsa and Krabbe 1990; Arctander and Fjeldsa, in press; T Schulenberg and N. Krabbe, pers. comm.). That Scytalopus has not colonized pan- tepui probably reflects poor dispersal capability, a factor that has contrib- uted to a rapid and diverse speciation in the geographically complex An- des. The informative accounts of Scytalopus taxa in Fjeldsa and Krabbe (1990) represent the first comprehensive treatment of the genus in the Andes, and provide the first organized insight into the several species groups and multiple lower taxa involved (see Vielliard 1990 for a recent
The infraorder Furnariides is a diverse group of suboscine passerine birds comprising a substantial component of the Neotropical avifauna. The included species encompass a broad array of morphologies and behaviours, making them appealing for evolutionary studies, but the size of the group (ca. 600 species) has limited well-sampled higher-level phylogenetic studies. Using DNA sequence data from the nuclear RAG-1 and RAG-2 exons, we undertook a phylogenetic analysis of the Furnariides sampling 124 (more than 88%) of the genera. Basal relationships among family-level taxa differed depending on phylogenetic method, but all topologies had little nodal support, mirroring the results from earlier studies in which discerning relationships at the base of the radiation was also difficult. In contrast, branch support for family-rank taxa and for many relationships within those clades was generally high. Our results support the Melanopareidae and Grallariidae as distinct from the Rhinocryptidae and Formicariidae, respectively. Within the Furnariides our data contradict some recent phylogenetic hypotheses and suggest that further study is needed to resolve these discrepancies. Of the few genera represented by multiple species, several were not monophyletic, indicating that additional systematic work remains within furnariine families and must include dense taxon sampling. We use this study as a basis for proposing a new phylogenetic classification for the group and in the process erect new family-group names for clades having high branch support across methods.
Tapaculos of the genus Scytalopus are secretive birds which tunnel like mice through dense understory of humid forest in the Andes, Central America, and south-eastern Brazil. Their agoraphobic habits make Scytalopus species highly sensitive to habitat discontinuities, so they are well suited for analyzing diversification patterns in montane forest biota. This study uses DNA sequence data to test hypotheses about past speciation events. The DNA data support that allopatric and parapatric populations with different songs represent different species. The high degree of phylogenetic resolution obtained by DNA-data permits a better description of geographical patterns of endemism. The data suggests that the commonly observed biogeographic pattern, where related species have long linear distributions along the Andes in different altitudinal zones, arose by divergence in disjunct isolates rather than by parapatric divergence. The approach seems well suited for identifying areas that have a special role for the diversification process. The paper finally discusses how detailed phylogenetic studies can be used to test interpretations of biogeographic patterns of high relevance for pinpointing top priority areas for conservation.
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23697, 53750; S. l. intermedius: ML #s 129556, 129558; XC #36091; S. micropterus: ML #s 72788, 78059, 92809
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S. l. subcinereus: ML
#21948, XC #s 230, 23697, 53750; S. l.
intermedius: ML #s 129556, 129558; XC
#36091; S. micropterus: ML #s 72788, 78059,
92809; XC #s 8035, 61418, 86507; S. macropus:
ML #s 14305, 17359, 17381, 17422; XC #s
20658, 54560-1;
XC #46784; S. spillmanni: ML #43510
- S Parvirostris
S. parvirostris:
ML #s 11407, 17386, 31905, 92128, 92654-5,
92809, 132687, 143641; XC #46784; S. spillmanni: ML #43510; XC #s 32389, 62342-3; S.
unicolor: XC #s 3458, 36095, 75834, 92189.
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