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Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush (Zoothera mollissima) complex (Aves, Turdidae) reveals cryptic species, including a new species
- Source :
- Avian Research. 7
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2016.
-
Abstract
- Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric. Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic (two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets. Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of “Plain-backed” Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China (“Alpine Thrush”); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan (at least), China (“Himalayan Forest Thrush”); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan (“Sichuan Forest Thrush”). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists (“Yunnan Thrush”). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative “Yunnan Thrush” as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato (s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto (s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush. Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. comprises at least three species: Alpine Thrush Z. mollissima s.s., with a widespread alpine breeding distribution; Sichuan Forest Thrush Z. griseiceps, breeding in central Sichuan forests; and Himalayan Forest Thrush, breeding in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan (at least), which is described herein as a new species. “Yunnan Thrush” requires further study.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Systematics
Species complex
Zoology
Biological Systematics
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Forest thrush
03 medical and health sciences
Genetics (medical genetics to be 30107 and agricultural genetics to be 40402)
Biologiska vetenskaper
Zoothera mollissima
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
biology
Biological Sciences
biology.organism_classification
030104 developmental biology
Taxon
Zoothera dixoni
Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (methods development to be 10203)
Animal Science and Zoology
Taxonomy (biology)
Thrush
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 20537166
- Volume :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Avian Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....8173897a68ab5eb3790e0e2e57f9f59a
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-016-0037-2