Cotinga 24 Taxonomic Round-up A new parakeet from the Sun group of 11 Sporophila species Relationships of the Red-bellied Parakeet group that share similar male plumage G rackle Luís Fábio Silveira and colleagues patterns. Using mtDNA sequences, Red-bellied Grackle Hypopyrrhus have described a new parakeet, the study indicated that: pyrohypogaster is a Colombian the Sulfur-breasted Parakeet Oryzoborus lies within a well- endemic that is currently Aratinga pintoi, from the region of supported clade containing all of classified as Endangered. Much Monte Alegre, on the north bank of the Sporophila, thus suggesting genetic work has recently been the Amazon in Pará, Brazil, where that the two genera should be conducted on the New World it appears to be not uncommon. merged; that the ‘capuchinos’ are a blackbirds, with the aim of Like the recently described monophyletic group, and this clade producing an accurate phylogeny Pionopsitta aurantiocephala, also comprises two sub-clades, one for the group. Until now, no DNA from Pará (see Cotinga 20: 15), including two species from data were available for this specimens of the new species had northern South America and the grackle, but the authors of a study been first collected many years other eight species distributed published in Condor have now ago, but had lain overlooked as an south of the Amazon. It appears demonstrated through mtDNA already recognised species, in this that the southern capuchinos sequencing that the monotypic case Sun Parakeet A. solstitialis, radiated rapidly, within the last genus Hypopyrrhus is most closely or had been considered to half-million years. Should related to Oriole Blackbird represent a hybrid. The new Oryzoborus and Sporophila be Gymnomystax mexicanus and species differs from Sun Parakeet merged then the latter name Velvet-fronted Grackle in having the mantle and wing- would have priority. Lampropsar tanagrinus, and coverts green, the underparts pale • Lijtmaer, D. A., Sharpe, N. M. M., although these three species form yellow, with pale orange restricted Tubaro, P. L. & Lougheed S. C. a well-supported clade, it is to the belly and flanks, and the (2004) Molecular phylogenetics unclear which is sister to feathers on the underparts have a and diversification of the genus Hypopyrrhus. dark rachis. The authors also Sporophila (Aves: • Cadena, C. D., Cuervo, A. M. & review systematics of the solsti­ Passeriformes). Mol. Phyl. & Lanyon, S. M. (2004) tialis group and reaffirm the need Evol. 33: 562-579. Phylogenetic relationships of the to recognise the other taxa, Red-bellied Grackle (Icteridae: jandaya and auricapillus, at W hither lies the Broad-billed Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster) specific level under any currently Sapayoa? inferred from mitochondrial operating species concept, as well True to its name, Sapayoa DNA sequence data. Condor 106: as discussing the range of solsti­ aenigma has long defied biologists’ 664-670. tialis in Brazil and Suriname. attempts to classify it. Although • Silveira, L. F., Lima, F. C. T. & Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) had Saffron Toucanet is a Pteroglossus Höfling, E. (2005) A new species suggested that the Sapayoa was Saffron Toucanet Baillonius of Aratinga parakeet perhaps closely related to Old bailloni is the sole member of its (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) World broadbills, this monotypic genus, and Baillonius has long from Brazil, with taxonomic genus has traditionally been been recognised as being remarks on the Aratinga solsti­ considered to lie somewhere somewhat close to the genus tialis complex. Auk 122: within the New World flycatchers. Pteroglossus on the basis of 292-305. Recent base sequencing of two behaviour, morphology and, more nuclear genes reveals that it is, as recently, molecular work. Fresh Oryzoborus and Sporophila speculated, most closely related to phylogenetic analysis, using represent a monophyletic the only two Old World suboscine cytochrome-6 gene fragments, grouping families, either the pittas or the strongly supports the idea that Evolutionary affinities within and broadbills. Baillonius is indeed part of among many groups of nine- • Fjeldsà, J., Zuccon, D., Irestedt, Pteroglossus and that it is most primaried oscines have been the M., Johansson, U. S. & Ericson, closely related to Lettered Aracari subject of several recent publica­ P. G. P. (2003) Sapayoa aenigma: P. inscriptus, suggesting that tions. A new study has focused on a New World representative of Saffron Toucanet is better named clarifying the relationship between ‘Old World sub-oscines’. Proc. Pteroglossus bailloni and that the genus Sporophila and the Roy. Soc. Lond. B Suppl. 270: Baillonius is best considered a closely related Oryzoborus, as well 238-241. synonym of Pteroglossus. as examining the phylogenetic • Kimura, R. K., Pereira, S. L., affinities of the ‘capuchinos’, a Grau, E. T., Höfling, E. & 9 Cotinga 24 Taxonomic Round-up Wajntal, A. ( 2004 ) Genetic between M. tuberculifer and Myrmeciza antbirds, the ‘profes­ distances and phylogenetic Swainson’s Flycatcher M. sional’ ant-following antbirds and analysis suggest that Baillonius swainsoni as a priority for future allied species. The study also Cassin, 1867 is a Pteruglossus research. supported previous findings that Illiger, 1811 (Piciformes: • Joseph, L. & Wilke, T. (2004) When suggested polyphyly of Ramphastidae). Orn. Neotrop. DNA throws a spanner in the Myrmotherula antwrens and 15: 527-537. works: testing for monophyly in Myrmeciza antbirds. the Dusky-capped Flycatcher, • Irestedt, M., Fjeldsâ, J., Nylander, J. An endemic species of nuthatch Myiarchus tuberculifer, and its A. A. & Ericson, P. G. P. (2004) in th e Baham as South American subspecies, M. t. Phylogenetic relationships of The conservation plight of the atriceps. Emu 104: 197-204. typical antbirds (Thamnophilidae) endemic subspecies of the Brown­ and test of incongruence based on headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla ...and RosyThrush-tanager? Bayes factors. Evol. Biol. 23. insularis, which is confined to Based on analyses of morphology Published online at www.biomed- Grand Bahama and under and mensural data the authors of central.com/1471-2148/4/23. increasing threat due to habitat a study pertaining to geographic destruction and modification, variation in Rosy Thrush-tanager A new genus of booby and a new invasive alien predators, and Rhodinocichla rosea recommend condor from the Peruvian storm damage, has been that the 4-6 allopatric populations Pliocene spotlighted in recent years. The of this species represent just one Cranial material pertaining to a total population is, at most, a few biological species, but potentially new genus (Ramphastosula) of thousand individuals. A recent five phylogenetic species: namely Sulidae has recently been paper in the Bahamas Journal of schistacea (western Mexico), an described from the early Lower Science recommends that the local unnamed population in the Pliocene of the Pisco Formation on population, the only West Indian Acapulco region of Mexico, eximia the central-southern coast of Peru. nuthatch, be elevated to specific (south-west Costa Rica and The skulls differ in at least five status based on its unusual western Panama), harterti (the features from other cranial morphometries and distinctive Venezuela/Colombia border region, material in the family. Similar vocalisations. If this proposal and probably including beebei), deposits from the same area have becomes widely accepted it should and nominate rosea (central-north also yielded a new fossil condor, assist in promoting the conserva­ Venezuela). Geographic variation named Perugyps diazi. tion of this declining form. in this intriguing species forms • Stucchi, M. & Urbina, M. (2004) • Hayes, W. K., Barry, R. X., two separate leapfrog patterns. Ramphastosula (Aves, Sulidae): a MacKenzie, Z. & Barry, P. (2004) The authors recommend that DNA new genus from the early Grand Bahama’s Brown-headed sampling of all these taxa and the Pliocene of the Pisco Formation, Nuthatch: a distinct and unnamed Mexican population be Peru. J. Vert. Paleontology 24: endangered species. Bahamas J. performed in the future. 974-978. Sei. 12: 21-28. • Peterson, A. T., Rice, N. H. & • Stucchi, M. & Emslie, S. D. (2005) Navarro-Sigüenza, A. G. (2004) A new condor ( Ciconiiformes, How many species of Dusky- Geographic variation in the Rosy Vulturidae) from the late capped Flycatcher...? Thrush-tanager (Rhodinocichla Miocene/early Pliocene Pisco A recent mtDNA study of rosea I complex of Mesoamerica Formation, Peru. Condor 107: populations of Dusky-capped (Aves: Passeriformes). Biota 107-113. Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer Neotropica 4 (2). See: www.biota- raises the possibility that, in fact, neotropica.org.br/v4n2/pt/toc A new Pleistocene furnariid three species are involved: the first The Uruguayan Pleistocene has represented by all those Relationships within the antbirds yielded a new species of fossil populations between the southern A new mtDNA study has furnariid, named USA and north-west South suggested some novel relationships Pseudoseisuropsis cuelloi. Very few America, and perhaps including amongst the antbirds, most fossil furnariids are currently northern M. t. atriceps; the second importantly and surprisingly that known, all of them from the represented by southern the Terenura antwrens, Wing- Pleistocene, and this the third to populations of M. t. atriceps-, and banded Antbird Myrmornis be described within the extinct thirdly M. t. tuberculifer, which torquata, Spot-winged Antshrike genus Pseudoseisuropsis. Two occurs