Christian Erard

What are african monarchs (Aves, Passeriformes)? A phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genes

We address the phylogenetic relationships of ten passerine bird species representing the five presently supposed monarchine (family Monarchidae) genera (Terpsiphone, Hypothymis, Elminia, Trochocercus, Erythrocercus) from Asia and Africa, as well as three monarchs from Australasia, three representatives of the related genera Rhipidura and Dicrurus, and 20 representatives of 11 other oscine groups (including two Culicicapa flycatchers) and one sub-oscine, using two partial mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and large sub-unit ribosomal 16S RNA). Molecular data corroborate ecological, ethological and morphological observations on the probable heterogeneity of Trochocercus and indicate that this genus is polyphyletic; two of its species are members of Monarchidae allied to Terpsiphone and Hypothymis; the others are more closely related to Elminia. Elminia is not a member of Monarchidae and is not related to any other sampled species, except Culicicapa. Erythrocercus is also outside the Monarchidae but inside a Sylvii-Pycnonotidae group. These results point once more to the need of a fully revised phylogeny of passerine birds.

Biomechanical features of the bill and and jaw apparatus of cuckoos, turacos and the hoatzin in relation to food acquisition and processing

A morphofunctional analysis of the feeding apparatus was conducted from an evolutionary perspective on the hoatzin (Opisthocomidae), some cuckoos (Cuculidae) and some turacos (Musophagidae). These goups share a common ancestral adaptation of the bill apparatus linked to starting food processing at base of the bill. The morphofunctional analyses give results different from what is known for the Galliformes and allow the construction of the hypothesis of two trophic adaptive pathways. One followed by the Cuculidae would have led to the consumption of a large range of arthropods, including toxic species; the other, followed by the Musophagidae and Opisthocomidae, would have led to the consumption of plant parts.

Effet de la lune sur la migration postnuptiale nocturne de l'alouette des champs Alauda arvensis L. en France

Abstract Night-migrating skylarks (Alauda arvensis) were captured during four successive autumns in France. The study aimed at detecting a possible influence of the lunar cycle on the nocturnal migration of this species. Though nocturnal postnuptial migration of the skylarks can occur during every phase of the moon, main nocturnal movements occurred when the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase. This phase gives the best conditions for migration because, from the very beginning of night, it provides the necessary horizon for individuals to navigate and its light allows the use of topographic cues. In addition it allows the species to benefit from optimal conditions of illumination for almost a week.

Bill and hyoid apparatus of pigeons (Columbidae) and sandgrouse (Pteroclididae): A common adaptation to vegetarian feeding?

For the present study, 15 species of pigeons representing the 5 sub-families usually recognized, and 3 species of sandgrouse were examined. The skeleton and musculature of the bill and hyoid apparatus are described. Morpho-functional analyses show that from a key adaptation to the removal and deglutition (without processing) of attached plant items, pigeons would have followed two pathways, one based on the joint muscular control of the movement of the jaws (Columbinae, Treroninae, Gourinae), the other on the separate muscular control (Didunculinae, Otidiphabinae). Sandgrouse would have diverged from this latter, developing the ability to very selectively remove attached plant items as well as to peck particularly small seeds on the ground. Unexpected differences appeared between sandgrouse species which raise eco-ethological problems.

Adaptation of seedsnipes (Aves, Charadriiformes, Thinocoridae) to browsing: a study of their feeding apparatus

Korzun L. P., Érard C., Gasc J.-P. & Dzerzhinsky F. J. 2009. — Adaptation of seedsnipes (Aves, Charadriiformes, Thinocoridae) to browsing: a study of their feeding apparatus. Zoosystema 31 (2): 347-368. ABSTRACT The present study describes in detail for the first time the skeleto-muscular system of the jaw and hyoid apparatus (i.e. feeding apparatus) of seedsnipes (Thinocoridae), a small (two genera, four species) South-American bird family the biology and particularly the diet of which are still barely known. Morpho-functional analyses interpreted in the light of presently available behavioural and diet data show a strongly developed adaptation to the removal of attached plant items based on the acquisition of the separate control of jaws. In order to acquire this mechanism and because they are separated in two very different size-classes, large Attagis and small Thinocorus species did not modify the same osteo-muscular structures. Attagis species expanded m. pseudotemporalis superficialis of which they increased the intricacy of the internal aponeurotic system. Thinocorus species evolved a specific orbito-zygomatic process (mainly by expansion and fusion of postorbital and zygomatic processes by ossification of aponeuroses), expanded the medial portion of the external adductor of the mandible and increased the complexity of the aponeuroses of this medial portion. Seedsnipes appear to be well specialized in the continuous removal of small plant fragments thanks to a tongue raising mechanism joint to enlarged salivary glands and crenate areas in the buccal cavity. Thinocoridae seem to have followed a morpho-functional evolutionary pathway similar to that followed by sandgrouse (Pteroclididae) in the course of the adaptation of their bill and hyoid apparatus to a vegetarian diet essentially based on the removal of small attached plant fragments in rather similar habitat conditions.

A new subspecies of the Red-billed Hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus, from West Africa

Trea, B. & Erord, C. 2000. A new subspecies of the Red-billed Hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus, from West Africa. Ostrich 71 (3&4):363-366. The Red-billed Hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus (Temminck), over most of its distribution range, has pale yellow or pink facial skin. However, in Senegal, The Gambia and Western Mali, where all Red-billed Hornbills are usually referred to the nominate subspecies, all adults have black circumorbital (facial) bare skin, conspicuous on live birds as well as on skinned specimens, and brown eyes. Field and museum studies suggest that these black-faced and brown-eyed birds from the western-most part of Africa belong to a yet undescribed subspecies. A review of the documents (including various black-and-white ond colour plates) on which Temrninck based his original description and naming of the species shows that there is uncertainty obout the locality of the type specimen illus-trated in the originol description. Furthermore, neither the plates nor their accompanying texts show the black facial pattern charac-teristic of these westem-most West African populations. To avoid confusion in future, and to ensure nomenclatural stability, a new type-locality and a neotype are designated for nominate Tockus erythrorhynchus, and a new nome is proposed for the populations extending from Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea to the inner Niger Delto in Mali. Further studies are needed to ascertain the status of these brown-eyed and black-faced birds: their facial colouration pattern could be associated with other eco-ethological characters and could play an important role in specific mate recognition sys-tems. [A French translation of the abstractis provided on p. 366.]

Analyse morphofonctionnelle et adaptations trophiques : le cas de l’appareil du bec des gobe-mouches de l'Ancien Monde

A morphofunctional analysis of the bill apparatus was conducted on some African forest flycatchers (Muscicapidae, Platysteiridae, Monarchidae) in relation to detailed eco-ethological data available on these species. The aim was to evaluate relationships between anatomical structures and habitat constraints and also identify the most pertinent trophic adaptations. If forest Muscicapidae have essentially conserved the generalized passerine structures and occupy open-habitat niches in the forest, Platysteiridae and Monarchidae have adapted to forest conditions and show a key-adaptation based on specific changes in the structure of the bill apparatus in response to particular light patterns and habitat clogginess, constraints that require speed and precision for the capture of prey and protection of the skull against collisions.