Richard Schodde

The Relationships of the Australo-Papuan Treecreepers Climacteridae as Indicated by DNA-DNA Hybridization

The technique of DNA-DNA hybridization was used to compare the nuclear DNAs of the Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus and the Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufa with the DNAs of other passerine taxa. The treecreepers were found to be the descendants of the oldest dichotomy (ca. 45-48 MYA) in the superfamily Menuroidea, a group that also includes the lyrebirds, scrub-birds, and bowerbirds. We recognize the family Climacteridae, superfamily Menuroidea, parvorder Corvi, suborder Passeres. Within the Climacteridae we recognize two genera, Climacteris for the species picumnus, rufa, melanura, erythrops, and affinis, and Cormobates for leucophaea (including minor) and placens.

Molecular Assessment of the Taxonomic Status of Cox's Sandpiper

To determine whether Calidris paramelanotos is a distinct species or a hybrid, DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene were obtained from it, as well as from C. ferruginea and C. melanotos. The sequences of the first two taxa were identical whereas that of C. melanotos differed by 9%. It is argued that C. paramelanotos is a hybrid taxon with C. ferruginea constituting the maternal parent. This conclusion, combined with comparisons of protein allozyme variation effectively rule out all but one of the crosses postulated for its hybrid origin -C. ferruginea x C. melanotos.

A revised classification of the Icteridae (Aves) based on DNA sequence data

The higher-level classification of the New World blackbirds (Icteridae; Aves) has remained relatively stable for nearly a half-century, with most currently used classifications (e.g. Sibley & Monroe 1990; Jaramillo & Burke 1999; Fraga 2011; Remsen et al. 2015) following Blakes (1968) delimitation and sequence of genera in the Peters Check-list of Birds of the World series. Early molecular studies (e.g., Lanyon 1992, 1994; Johnson & Lanyon 1999; Price & Lanyon 2002; Cadena et al. 2004) produced only minor modifications.

Conflict resolution of grammar and gender for avian species-group names under Article 31.2.2 of the ICZN Code: is gender agreement worth it?

We analyze recent nomenclatural treatment of selected avian species-group names that may be either adjective and variable or noun and invariable. In 27 such names, we found that 14 previously identified as adjectives are nouns under Article 31.2.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Five of them may require correction in current checklists; they are bresilius in Ramphocelus bresilius (Linnaeus, 1766) to bresilia, germana in Amblyornis macgregoriae germana Rothschild, 1910 to germanus, argentinus in Muscisaxicola cinereus argentinus Hellmayr, 1932 to argentina, martinicus in Porphyrio martinicus (Linnaeus, 1766) to martinica, and moluccus in Threskiornis moluccus (Cuvier, 1829) to molucca. Mindful of the compounding effect of species-genus recombination from taxonomic revision, we reach the conclusion, not new, that the requirement for gender agreement in species-group names is the single biggest cause of nomenclatural instability in zoology. To resolve it, we support replacing gender agreement by original spellings for species-group names.

Ecological and evolutionary diversification in the Australo-Papuan scrubwrens ( Sericornis ) and mouse-warblers ( Crateroscelis ), with a revision of the subfamily Sericornithinae (Aves: Passeriformes: Acanthizidae)

Understanding how the complex geotectonic and climatic history of the Australo-Papuan region has promoted the ecological and evolutionary diversification of its avifauna remains a challenge. Outstanding questions relate to the nature and timing of biogeographical connections between Australia and the emerging island of New Guinea and the mechanisms by which distinctive altitudinal replacement sequences have evolved amongst congeneric species in montane New Guinea. Here, we combine analyses of phylogenetic and eco-morphological data to investigate ecological and evolutionary patterns of diversification in the largely mesic-adapted Australo-Papuan scrubwrens (Sericornis) and mouse-warblers (Crateroscelis). We find evidence of ecological convergence and present a revised taxonomic and systematic treatment of the subfamily integrating information from new (ND2) and existing molecular phylogenetic reconstructions. Biogeographical connections indicate at least three phases of faunal interchange between Australia and New Guinea commencing in the mid to late Miocene. We also find little support for the proposed time dependency of ecological sorting mechanisms linked to divergence in foraging niche amongst altitudinal replacements. Instead, physiological adaptations to hypoxia and increased thermal efficiency at higher altitudes may better account for observed patterns of diversification in montane New Guinea. Indirect support for this hypothesis is derived from molecular clock calibrations that indicate a pulse of diversification across the Miocene-Pliocene boundary coincident with a phase of rapid mountain uplift. Simple ecological and climatic models appear inadequate for explaining observed patterns and mechanisms of diversification in the New Guinean montane avifauna. Further insights will require multidisciplinary research integrating geotectonic, palaeoclimatic, genetic, ecological and physiological approaches.

East or west: to which subspecies does the type specimen of the Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) (Aves: Cacatuidae), belong?

The Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) is a pink-and-grey cockatoo, widespread in and endemic to Australia, and now familiar as a cage bird world-wide. It has three currently recognised subspecies: roseicapilla Vieillot, 1817 in the Australian west, kuhli Mathews, 1912 in the far north, and albiceps Schodde, 1989 in the east (Schodde 1997; Higgins 1999; Dickinson & Remsen 2013; del Hoyo & Collar 2014; Engelhard et al. 2015). The northern subspecies, kuhli, is not involved in the issue of type identity of roseicapilla, and so is not considered further here. First to distinguish east and west subspecies was G.M. Mathews (1912). Without explanation then or later, Mathews arbitrarily applied the senior specific name, Cacatua roseicapilla Vieillot, 1817 and its two objective synonyms based on the same type-eos Kuhl, 1820 and rosea Vieillot, 1822-to the eastern subspecies, and introduced the new name assimilis for the then supposedly undescribed western form. Mathews lead was followed unquestioningly until the late 1980s when Schodde (1989) and Rowley (1990: 3) concluded that the type of Vieillots roseicapilla was of the western subspecies, collected by the Baudin expedition in the region of Shark Bay on the mid-western Australian coast. Rowley (l.c.), but not Schodde (l.c.) contrary to Rowleys reference, went further to claim that it had been taken by François Péron in 1803, presumably on the brief return visit of Baudin in Le Géographe to Shark Bay en route to France. This left the eastern subspecies un-named, which Schodde (l.c.) accordingly described as albiceps.

Speciation in Indo-Pacific swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae): integrating molecular and phenotypic data for a new provisional taxonomy of the Collocalia esculenta complex

White-bellied swiftlets of the Collocalia esculenta complex constitute a radiation of colony-breeding swifts distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Resolution of their taxonomy is challenging due to their morphological uniformity. To analyze the evolutionary history of this complex, we combine new biometric measurements and results from plumage assessment of museum specimens with novel as well as previously published molecular data. Together, this body of information constitutes the largest systematic dataset for white-bellied swiftlets yet compiled, drawn from 809 individuals belonging to 32 taxa for which new molecular, biometric, and/or plumage data are presented. We propose changing the classification of white-bellied swiftlets, for which two species are currently recognized, to elevate eight regional forms to species level, and we also describe two new subspecies. The ten taxa we recommend recognizing at the species level are: Collocalia linchi (Java to Lombok, Sumatran hills), C. dodgei (montane Borneo), C. natalis (Christmas Island), C. affinis (Greater Sundas, including the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Andaman-Nicobar Islands), C. marginata (Philippines), C. isonota (Philippines), C. sumbawae (west Lesser Sundas), C. neglecta (east Lesser Sundas), C. esculenta (Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands), and C. uropygialis (Vanuatu, New Caledonia). Future molecular and morphological work is needed to resolve questions of speciation and population affinities in the Philippines, Christmas Island, Wallacea and central Melanesia, and to shed light on historic diversification and patterns of gene flow in the complex.

Settling the name Diomedea exulans Linnaeus, 1758 for the Wandering Albatross by neotypification

On-going conflict in use of the name Diomedea exulans Linnaeus, 1758 for different taxa of the great albatrosses (Wandering Albatross complex) is resolved by neotypification, fixing the name to the large subantarctic form formerly often known as D. chionoptera Salvin, 1896. Application of all scientific names in the complex is reviewed, an annotated synonymy for the large subantarctic form is provided, available names for smaller, temperate-zone forms are listed, and unavailable and otherwise invalid names referable to the complex are identified. Syntypes of D. chionoptera and D. spadicea J.F. Gmelin, 1789 are lectotypified as well, fixing their names as synonyms of D. exulans to prevent possible disturbance to in-use names for the smaller, temperate-zone forms.

Correction of Cassicinae Bonaparte, 1853 (Aves, Icteridae) to Cacicinae Bonaparte, 1853

In our recently published revised classification of the Icteridae (Remsen et al. 2016), we used the family group name Cassicinae Bonaparte, 1853 on the assumption that its type genus was Cassicus Illiger, 1811. We have since confirmed, after kind advice from Thomas Donegan (pers. comm. 2016), that Cassicus Illiger (1811: 214) is simply an unjustified emendation of Cacicus Lacépède, 1799, made clear by Illiger (l.c.) in a footnote to his description of Cassicus. Under Articles 32.5.3.2 and 35.4.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999), a family-group name formed from an unjustified emendation of the name of its type genus is to be corrected, unless the emendation has come into use as a substitute name or through prevailing use. This is not the case here, and accordingly we correct the spelling of Cassicinae to Cacicinae. Bonaparte (1853) retains authorship; and, although not expressly mentioned before, his originally ligatured suffix -eoe for the name was automatically corrected by us (Remsen et al. l.c.) under Articles 11.7.1.3 and 32.5.3 of the Code (ICZN l.c.).

The correct authorship and type locality of Melanocorypha leucoptera (Aves: Passeriformes, Alaudidae)

Mlikovský (2013) proposed replacing the widely-used Melanocorypha leucoptera (Pallas, 1811) with Melanocorypha leucoptera (Hablizl, 1785) as the correct name for the White-winged Lark, with consequent shift in type locality from the Irtys River-Baraba steppe region in south Siberia to the Crimea. This action breaches Art. 80.9 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999), hereafter “the Code”. That article states that “no ruling given by the Commission in relation to a particular work, name, or nomenclatural act is to be set aside without the consent of the Commission”. Melanocorypha leucoptera of Pallas (1811), as published in his Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica , was conserved explicitly in Opinion 403 of the Commission (ICZN 1956), and no consent to Mlikovský’s findings has been given since.