NEWS & VIEWS regions, one nuclear and two mitochon- drial, whereas Voelker’s was based on a single mitochondrial region. The new phylogeny provides some surprises, but also confirms recent argu- ments about the questionable validity of the two species described from Kimber- ley. Specifically, the analysis of the mul- tiple gene regions supports the view of Greg Davies, Faansie Peacock and others that Kimberley Pipits are in fact African Pipits A. cinnamomeus and Long-tailed Pipits are actually Buffy Pipits A. vaal- ensis. Birders mourning the likely demise of two species on their lists may, however, take some consolation from the study’s findings concerning Long-billed Pipit A. similis. It turns out that the geo- graphically separated populations of PETER RYAN this species in East and southern Africa are sufficiently distinct to warrant con- sidering the southern African popula- tion a separate species, Nicholson’s Pipit separation A. nicholsoni. In addition, the new data confirm that Wood Pipit A. nyassae is a distinct species and not conspecific with anxiety Long-billed, as has sometimes been ar- gued in the past. Untangling the pipit family tree Another key finding of the Pietersen et al. study concerns Yellow-breasted ipits. The mere mention of these from live birds, toe pads from museum Pipit and the taxonomically enigmatic quintessential LBJs is enough to specimens and GenBank sequence data. Golden Pipit Tmetothylacus tenellus. induce feelings of trepidation and The final dataset comprised 56 currently Debate surrounding the affinities of the Pinadequacy in all but the most competent recognised species, including 28 of the 32 latter species goes back more than a cen- birders. The difficulty of identifying pipits species occurring in Africa. The results tury, with it originally being described in the field has contributed to their tax- of this study, which involved research- as a longclaw, but then subsequently be- onomy remaining contentious, with the ers from the University of Pretoria, the ing transferred to Anthus, with Austin number of recognised species forming the National Zoological Gardens, Tshwane Roberts arguing in 1922 that the spe- basis for long-standing and often heated University of Technology and the En- cies represents a link between pipits and debate. A prime case in point concerns dangered Wildlife Trust, were recently longclaws. The new genetic data, how- the Kimberley Pipit Anthus pseudosimilis published in the British ornithological ever, reveal that both these ‘yellow pipits’ and the Long-tailed Pipit A. longicaudatus. journal Ibis. are longclaws in the genus Macronyx. These two species were described in the The Pietersen et al. analysis differs in ANDREW McKECHNIE late 1990s and early 2000s but their validity several respects from earlier molecu- has subsequently been called into question lar assessments of relationships among References (see African Birdlife 2(1): 61–66). the pipits, the most important of which Pietersen DW, McKechnie AE, Jansen R, As part of a Fitztitute-funded PhD on was published by Gary Voelker in 1999. Little IT, Bastos ADS. 2018. ‘Multi-locus the Yellow-breasted Pipit A. chloris, Dar- One difference is that whereas Voelker’s phylogeny of African pipits and longclaws ren Pietersen recently reassessed the phy- (1999) phylogeny was based on 45 speci- (Aves: Motacillidae) highlights taxo- logeny of African pipits and longclaws. mens representing 31 species, the new nomic inconsistencies.’ Ibis doi: 10.1111/ The analysis was based on blood samples phylogeny is based on 277 samples rep- ibi.12683. resenting 56 species, not including the Voelker G. 1999. ‘Molecular evolutionary Long-billed Pipits in southern Africa are suf- GenBank sequences. In addition to more relationships in the avian genus Anthus ficiently distinct from those in East Africa to extensive sampling, the Pietersen et al. (Pipits: Motacillidae).’ Molecular Phylo- be considered a separate species. study involved analyses of three gene genetics and Evolution 11: 84–94. 12 AFRICAN BIRDLIFE.