Search

Twelve new species of chewing lice in the genus Priceiella Gustafsson & Bush, 2017, are described from Old World “babblers” (Leiothrichidae, Paradoxornithiidae, Pellorneidae and Timaliidae). Eight species belong to the subgenus Thescelovora Gustafsson & Bush, 2017: Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) calcicola n. sp. from Turdinus crispifrons crispifrons ; Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) fuscicaena n. sp. from Malacopteron magnum magnum and Malacopteron cinereum cinereum ; Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) orichalca n. sp. from Turdinus brevicaudatus leucostictus and four other host species; Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) chanthaburiana n. sp. from Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos tickelli and Pomatorhinus schisticeps klossi ; Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) macrocephala n. sp. from Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi ; Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) coleyae n. sp. ex Stachyris striolata tonkinensis ; Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) austini n. sp. ex Pomatorhinus ruficollis intermedius ; and Priceiella ( Thescelovora ) ornata n. sp. ex Psittiparus gularis fokiensis . The remaining four species belong to the subgenus Camurnirmus Gustafsson & Bush, 2017: Priceiella ( Camurnirmus ) najeri n. sp. from Garrulax monileger stuarti and three other hosts; Priceiella ( Camurnirmus ) bohsae n. sp. from Garrulax strepitans ; Priceiella ( Camurnirmus ) lindquistae n. sp. ex Ianthocincla chinensis chinensis ; Priceiella ( Camurnirmus ) sonorae n. sp. ex Garrulax maesi maesi . We redescribe and illustrate Priceiella ( Camurnirmus ) rhinocichlae (Eichler, 1957). Keys to species of two subgenera, a comprehensive checklist of all the species of Priceiella , and a host-louse list are provided.

Monophyly of the scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus, Xiphirhynchus: Timaliidae), traditionally defined by the characteristic of having long, curved bills, has been questioned by recent molecular phylogenetic results. We examined representatives of all scimitar babbler species complexes, including all distinct lineages of four complexes as well as several potential relatives, and corroborate that Xiphirhynchus and some species of Stachyris group within Pomatorhinus. Pomatorhinus species comprise three separate clades: larger scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus hypoleucos, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys complexes); orange- and coral-billed scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus complexes); and small scimitar babblers (Pomatorhinus schisticeps, Pomatorhinus ruficollis, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii, Pomatorhinus montanus complexes). Additionally, at least two of the traditional species complexes are not monophyletic. Lineages of the ruficollis and schisticeps groups are intertwined, and P. montanus and P. horsfieldi group within the schisticeps complex. Upon revision of four traditional species complexes, P. hypoluecos, P. ferruginosus, P. schisticeps, and P. ruficollis (with 41 subspecies described in total), 27 distinct, independent lineages or phylogenetic species were distinguished. Two contrasting biogeographical patterns are evident in these groups: Sino-Himalayan areas are either sister to south-east Asian areas or are embedded within a clade of other Asian areas. The present study demonstrates the need for unraveling the confusion in traditional taxonomy to allow the study of complex biodiversity patterns in tropical Asia. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 846–869.

Distance sampling is usually preferred over uncorrected point counts for surveys of forest birds, but rarely has its accuracy been assessed against known numbers, particularly in tropical forests. We compared density estimates of eight species of breeding bird—Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea), Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis banyumas), White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus), Puff-throated Bulbul (Alophoixus pallidus), Abbott's Babbler (Malacocincla abbotti), Puff-throated Babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps), White-browed Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus schisticeps), and White-bellied Yuhina (Yuhina zantholeuca)—obtained through color-banding, nest finding, and territory mapping with those derived from distance methods in evergreen forest in northeastern Thailand. We also assessed the availability of birds to be detected using a closed-capture model and incorporated this with point-transect distance sampling. Abundance estimates from territory mapping and distance sampling were highly correlate...