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A new subspecies of Short-toed Snake-eagle from Wallacea determined from morphological and DNA comparison

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Abstract

The taxonomic status of the geographically isolated population of Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus on the Lesser Sundas (=Nusa Tenggara) has been controversial. In the past they have been regarded as either a migrant population or a recently arrived resident population. Here we obtained DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene and combined genetic data with assessments of published and novel morphological data to clarify the taxonomic status of the Lesser Sundas population of C. gallicus. The cytochrome-b distance between the Lesser Sundas and Palearctic populations of C. gallicus is consistent with subspecific differentiation, indicating a possible divergence during one of the most recent Pleistocene glaciations. Although some of the morphological distinctions show overlap, the new subspecies can generally be diagnosed from nominate C. gallicus gallicus by being smaller and paler, and exhibiting less spotting and barring. Unlike nominate populations from mainland Eurasia, the new subspecies seems to lack pronounced sexual dimorphism. We here describe this new subspecies to science and discuss its biology and conservation status.

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... Indonesische Vögel sind durchschnittlich kleiner als paläarktische Populationen, doch das geringe Material in Museen erlaubte eine subspezifische Einstufung der Sunda-Population bisher nicht (Mees 1975(Mees , 2006. Ng et al. (2017) fanden eine geringe Differenzierung des cytb-Gens (0,4 %) zwischen indonesischen und paläarktischen Schlangenadlern, während die Unterschiede zwischen den Circaetus-Arten generell 4,3 bis 12,2 % betragen. Morphometrische Daten (Flügelspanne und Schwanzlänge) zeigen, dass paläarktische Weibchen ~ 8 % größer sind als solche von den Kleinen Sundainseln, bei Männchen sind die Unterschiede geringer (~ 2,5 %). ...
... gestreift als solche aus der Paläarktis. Aufgrund dieser Befunde halten es Ng et al. (2017) für angebracht, die Schlangenadler der Kleinen Sundainseln subspezifisch als C. g. sacerdotis von den paläarktischen Populationen abzutrennen. Benennung: Lat. ...
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Phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome-b sequences and cranial osteological characters for nine genera of corvine passerine birds supports the hypothesis that the two major groups of birds of paradise, the manucodines and paradisaeinines, constitute a monophyletic group and that their postulated sister group is the Corvidae (crows, jays, and allies). The data are also consistent with the hypothesis that the bowerbirds are not closely related to the birds of paradise but instead lie near the base of the corvine assemblage. The corvine radiation exemplifies a case of multiple star phylogenies embedded within a major clade, with the branching pattern characterized by very short internodal divergence times. Such histories are difficult to resolve no matter what type of data is employed, because little change accumulates between branching events. With respect to sequence data, reconstructed tree topologies are sensitive to the choice of outgroup and to the method of analysis (e.g., transversion vs. global parsimony). In such cases, assessing the "reliability" of a best-fit or most-parsimonious tree inferred from any particular data set becomes problematic. Statistical tests of tree topologies that depend on random sampling of characters will generally be inconclusive in that all cladistic components will tend to be poorly supported because relatively few character-state changes will be recorded between branching events. It is suggested, on the other hand, that congruence in cladistic signal across different data sets may be a potentially more useful method for evaluating the reliability of the signal of any one data set. Resolution of star phylogenies will probably be possible only if DNA sequence and morphological characters are combined in a single analysis.
Article
The phylogeny of 11 species of Old World vultures (Aves: Accipitriformes, Aegypiinae), three species of New World vultures (Cathartidae) and theri nearest relatives within and outside the order Accipitriformes was investigated based on 1026 nucleotides of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The data support the contention that New World vultures are not birds of prey, but phylogenetic information was insufficient to identify whether they are closer to storks (Ciconiidae) or to Accipitriformes. Four species of Gyps are all closely related and probably speciated within the Pleistocene. Molecular data do not support the split of 'white-backed' vultures from Gyps in a separate genus Pseudogyps. The monotypic genera of large, heavy-billed vultures, Aegypius, Torgos, Trigonoceps and Sarcogyps, are of monophyletic origin. We propose to merge Torgos with Aegypius, but retain Trigonoceps and Sarcogyps as separate genera, Sarcogyps being clearly the most primitive of the four. All four, together with Gyps and Necrosyrtes, form a monophyletic subfamily or 'core group', to which the subfamily Aegypiinae should be restricted. This group shares a more recent common ancestor with several non-vulture genera of Accipitrids, among them Buteo, Aquila, Haliaeetus and Circaetus, than it does with the two aberrent vultures Gypaetus barbatus and Neophron percnopterus. The last two are much more primitive; they seem to be each other's sister species and are closer to Pernis than to other Accipitrids. We propose separating Gypaetus and Neophron in the subfamily Gypaetinae. If the cytochrome b gene tree accurately reflects vulture phylogeny, Old World vultures are polyphyletic with the Aegypius-Gyps clade having evolved convergently to the more ancient Gypaetus and Neophron vultures. Polyphyly of Old World vultures, although in conflict with the DNA-DNA hybridization phylogeny of Sibley & Ahlquist (1990), is well supported by molecular, karyotypic, morphological and other phenotypic evidence (behaviour, voice) indicating fundamental differences between the two evolutionary lines.
Article
Molecular clocks are widely used to date phylogenetic events, yet evidence supporting the rate constancy of molecular clocks through time and across taxonomic lineages is weak. Here, we present 90 candidate avian clock calibrations obtained from fossils and biogeographical events. Cross-validation techniques were used to identify and discard 16 inconsistent calibration points. Molecular evolution occurred in an approximately clock-like manner through time for the remaining 74 calibrations of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome b. A molecular rate of approximately 2.1% (+/- 0.1%, 95% confidence interval) was maintained over a 12-million-year interval and across most of 12 taxonomic orders. Minor but significant variance in rates occurred across lineages but was not explained by differences in generation time, body size or latitudinal distribution as previously suggested.
Plumage differences and taxonomic status of three similar Circaetus snake-eagles
  • W S Clark
Clark, W.S. (1999) Plumage differences and taxonomic status of three similar Circaetus snake-eagles. Bulletin of the British Ornithological Club, 119, 56-58.
A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea
  • B J Coates
  • K D Bishop
Coates, B.J. & Bishop, K.D. (1997) A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea. Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, 535 pp.
Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago
  • J A Eaton
  • B Van Balen
  • N W Brickle
  • F E Rheindt
Eaton, J.A., van Balen, B., Brickle, N.W. & Rheindt, F.E. (2016) Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 496 pp.
Ueber einige Raubvogel der Kleinen Sunda-Inseln
  • E Mayr
Mayr, E. (1941) Ueber einige Raubvogel der Kleinen Sunda-Inseln. Ornithologische Monatsberichte, 49, 42-47.
Die Vogelwelt von Lombok
  • B Rensch
Rensch, B. (1931) Die Vogelwelt von Lombok, Sumbawa und Flores. Mitteilungen vom Zoologischen Museum Berlin, 17, 451-637.
1862) Buteones. Muséum d'Histoire naturelle des Pays?Bas
  • H Schlegel
Schlegel, H. (1862) Buteones. Muséum d'Histoire naturelle des Pays?Bas, 2, 1-30.
1829) Papers on natural history
  • A Smith
Smith, A. (1829) Papers on natural history. South African Commercial Advertiser, 4, 2, col. 2.
The Status and Conservation of the Endangered Wetar Ground-dove (Gallicolumba hoedtii) and other Wildlife on Wetar Island
  • C R Trainor
  • Imanuddin
  • F Aldy
  • J S Walker
Trainor, C.R., Imanuddin, Aldy, F. & Walker, J.S. (2009) The Status and Conservation of the Endangered Wetar Ground-dove (Gallicolumba hoedtii) and other Wildlife on Wetar Island, Indonesia, 2008. Final Technical Report. Columbidae Conservation, Manchester, 86 pp.
Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle Appliquée aux Arts à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc
  • L J P Vieillot
Vieillot, L.J.P. (1818) Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle Appliquée aux Arts à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Vol. 23. Chex Deterville, Paris, 445 pp.
1851) Naumannia. Archiv für die Ornithologie, vorzugsweise Europa's
  • Von Muller
Von Muller, J.W. (1851) Naumannia. Archiv für die Ornithologie, vorzugsweise Europa's. Organ der deutschen Ornithologen-Gesellschaft, 1, 27.