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Circumscription of a monophyletic family for the tapaculos (Aves: Rhinocryptidae): Psiloramphus in and Melanopareia out

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Abstract

The tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae) are tracheophone, suboscine birds restricted to South and Central America. Most tapaculos share a number of internal and external characteristics that have been used to define the family taxonomically. The genera Melanopareia and Psiloramphus do not fully fit this pattern and have caused considerable dispute among taxonomists since they were first described. In this paper we delimit the systematic boundaries of the tapaculos and assess their generic relationships by analysis of molecular sequence data. The results show that whereas Psiloramphus is nested well within the Rhinocryptidae, Melanopareia falls far outside that clade. A new family is erected for Melanopareia.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks go especially to those researchers who, for years, and often with very small economic means, have collected the specimens and tissue samples without which studies like this could not be made. N. Krabbe is thanked for comments on the manuscript. E. Endrigo kindly provided the photograph of Psilorhamphus. The following institutions provided samples that have been included in the study: Zoological Museum of Copenhagen University, Swedish Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Natural History, American Museum of Natural History and Field Museum of Natural History. The Swedish Research Council provided financial support for the laboratory work (grant no. 621–2007–5280 to PE).

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Correspondence to Per G. P. Ericson.

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Communicated by M. Wink.

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Ericson, P.G.P., Olson, S.L., Irestedt, M. et al. Circumscription of a monophyletic family for the tapaculos (Aves: Rhinocryptidae): Psiloramphus in and Melanopareia out. J Ornithol 151, 337–345 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0460-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0460-9

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