Circumscription of a monophyletic family for the tapaculos (Aves: Rhinocryptidae): Psiloramphus in and Melanopareia out

TY - JOUR

T1 - Circumscription of a monophyletic family for the tapaculos (Aves: Rhinocryptidae)

T2 - Psiloramphus in and Melanopareia out

AU - Ericson, Per G. P.

AU - Olson, Storrs L.

AU - Irestedt, Martin

AU - Alvarenga, Herculano

AU - Fjeldså, Jon

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - The tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae) are tracheophone, suboscine birds restricted to South and Central America. Most tapaculos share a number of internal and external characteristics that have been used to define the family taxonomically. The genera Melanopareia and Psiloramphus do not fully fit this pattern and have caused considerable dispute among taxonomists since they were first described. In this paper we delimit the systematic boundaries of the tapaculos and assess their generic relationships by analysis of molecular sequence data. The results show that whereas Psiloramphus is nested well within the Rhinocryptidae, Melanopareia falls far outside that clade. A new family is erected for Melanopareia.

AB - The tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae) are tracheophone, suboscine birds restricted to South and Central America. Most tapaculos share a number of internal and external characteristics that have been used to define the family taxonomically. The genera Melanopareia and Psiloramphus do not fully fit this pattern and have caused considerable dispute among taxonomists since they were first described. In this paper we delimit the systematic boundaries of the tapaculos and assess their generic relationships by analysis of molecular sequence data. The results show that whereas Psiloramphus is nested well within the Rhinocryptidae, Melanopareia falls far outside that clade. A new family is erected for Melanopareia.

U2 - 10.1007/s10336-009-0460-9

DO - 10.1007/s10336-009-0460-9

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2193-7192

VL - 151

SP - 337

EP - 345

JO - Journal of Ornithology

JF - Journal of Ornithology

ER -