Claydson Pinto de Assis

Taxonomic revision of Saffron-billed Sparrow Arremon flavirostris Swainson, 1838 (Aves: Passerellidae) with comments on its holotype and type locality

The Saffron-billed Sparrow (Arremon flavirostris) complex occurs in the undergrowth of deciduous woodlands and forests from the Andes of Bolivia and northern Argentina to Paraguay and southern, mid-western and interior eastern Brazil. Currently four subspecies are recognized: A. f. flavirostris, A. f. polionotus, A. f. devillii and A. f. dorbignii. We review the taxonomy of this complex by analyzing coloration and morphometrics of a series of 234 skins, and by comparing 101 sound recordings. Our results suggest that under both the Phylogenetic and Biological Species Concept, three species should be recognized in this complex: A. flavirostris, A. polionotus and A. dorbignii. On the other hand, A. devillii should be considered a junior synonym of A. polionotus since these two have no constant differences in morphology and vocalization. These species are diagnosable by their coloration characters, but not by morphometrics. Vocalizations are useful in diagnosing A. flavirostris from A. dorbignii, but do not diagnose A. polionotus from the others. We show that part of the previous taxonomic confusion can be attributed to variation in back color of adult and immature A. polionotus. Finally, we comment on the recently located holotype of A. flavirostris, which was believed to be lost, and its type locality.

VALIDATION OF THAMNOPHILUS CAPISTRATUS LESSON, 1840 (PASSERIFORMES: THAMNOPHILIDAE)

Abstract We reviewed the taxonomic status of Thamnophilus doliatus capistratus Lesson, 1840, which is endemic to eastern Brazil. The analyses of skins focused on plumage coloration and measurements. Morphometric skin analyses included descriptive statistics, analyses of variance, and discriminant-function analysis. The results provided a consistent morphological and morphometric diagnosis, and consequently validated Thamnophilus capistratus. Validação de Thamnophilus capistratus Lesson, 1840 (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)

Geographic variation and taxonomy of the Arremon taciturnus (Hermann, 1783) species complex (Aves: Passerellidae)

Arremon taciturnus is a polytypic South American species with three currently recognized subspecies: Arremon taciturnus taciturnus, Arremon taciturnus nigrirostris and Arremon taciturnus axillaris. Historically, two additional species, Arremon semitorquatus, and Arremon franciscanus, were considered related to Arremon taciturnus, thus forming a species complex. In this paper, we review the taxonomy of the complex, including all taxa involved, based on coloration, morphometrics and vocal characters. All the taxa, except for A. taciturnus nigrirostris, are diagnosable based on coloration, especially of the bill, superciliary stripes and wing coverts, and have well-defined distributions. Based on our results, we suggest that A. taciturnus, A. axillaris, A. semitorquatus and A. franciscanus are valid species, while the specific name nigrirostris should be considered a junior synonym of taciturnus. All these species, besides A. taciturnus and A. axillaris, also have clearly different vocalizations. Additionally, we discuss the geographical variation between populations of A. taciturnus revealed by a multivariate analysis of song characters.ZusammenfassungGeographische Variation und Taxonomie derArremon taciturnus(Hermann, 1783) Sammelart 30 (Aves: Passerellidae)Arremon taciturnus ist eine polytypische südamerikanische Art mit drei derzeit anerkannten Unterarten: Arremon taciturnus taciturnus, Arremon taciturnus nigrirostris und Arremon taciturnus axillaris. Historisch betrachtet umfasst die Sammelart noch zwei weitere verwandte Arten, nämlich Arremon semitorquatus und Arremon franciscanus. In dieser Arbeit überprüfen wir die Taxonomie jedes einzelnen Taxons in der Sammelart anhand von Färbung, Morphometrie und Gesangmerkmalen. Alle Taxa außer A. taciturnus nigrirostris sind anhand von Färbung erkennbar, insbesondere des Schnabels, der Deckfedern und des Überaugenstreifs, und haben wohl definierte Verbreitungen. Aufgrund unserer Ergebnisse empfehlen wir, dass A. taciturnus, A. axillaris, A. semitorquatus und A. franciscanus begründete Arten sind, und dass der Name nigrirostris als jüngeres Synonym von taciturnus betrachtet werden soll. Alle Arten außer A. taciturnus und A. axillaris haben auch offensichtlich verschiedene Vokalisationen. Zusätzlich diskutieren wir die geographische Variation zwischen A. taciturnus Populationen, die mittels einer multivariate Analyse der Gesangmerkmale untersucht wurde.

First record of the Hauxwell’s Thrush, Turdus hauxwelli Lawrence, 1869 (Aves: Turdidae) from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and geographic range extension

We report the first record of the Hauxwell’s Thrush, Turdus hauxwelli Lawrence, 1869 (Aves: Turdidae) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. During an ornithological inventory conducted in Serra de Maracajú, municipality of Corguinho, we mist-netted and collected an individual of the species. The specimen was prepared as study skin and is held in the ornithological collection of the Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro. This record is located 472 km south of the closest visual/song record and 616 km southeast of the closest museum specimen, being the southernmost occurrence of this thrush.