A review of the recent advances in the systematics of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea

Abstract

The systematics of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea are reviewed, focusing on studies of relationships among families and within genera, more superficially on taxonomic studies at the species level. For the families Bernieridae and Phylloscopidae, new analyses based on already published sequence data are presented. Our understanding of relationships has been vastly improved in recent years due to a large number of molecular studies. However, the relationships among the different families remain largely obscured, probably mainly as a result of rapid divergence of the different primary lineages (families). Also, species level taxonomy has been much improved in recent years due to a large number of studies applying molecular markers and/or vocalizations and other life-history data. It seems likely that the number of species will continue to increase, as new groups are being studied with modern integrative methods.

Genetic confirmation of the species status of Jabouilleia naungmungensis

“…This difference in taxonomic treatment was subsequently debated in the literature and in online forums (Alström et al 2013;Collar 2011;Collar and Pilgrim 2007;Eames and Mahood 2011;Moyle et al 2012;Nyári and Reddy 2013;Oliveros et al 2012;Rappole et al 2005Rappole et al , 2008Reddy 2008;Reddy and Moyle 2011;Renner et al 2015). At present, taxonomic authorities appear to be following the arguments presented by Collar (2011) in treating J. naungmungensis as a subspecies of J. danjoui (Dickinson and Christidis 2014) or Napothera danjoui (Clements et al 2015) (for differences between the two generic classifications, refer to Fig.…”

A multilocus molecular phylogeny for the avian genus Liocichla (Passeriformes: Leiothrichidae: Liocichla)

“…However, developing a robust phylogeny for this diverse group is a necessary prerequisite for integrating the group into broader evolutionary and biogeographic studies. Given the number of species as well as their morphological and ecological diversity and high degree of character convergence this goal is not without its challenges but recent work has made considerable progress in imposing some taxonomic rigor on this diverse group [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Discovery of a relict lineage and monotypic family of passerine birds

“…The past 10 years have witnessed a surge in taxonomic changes in Asian birds, partly as a result of molecular analyses [3,17]. A large fraction has been within the songbird group called 'babblers'.…”

“…Based on several comprehensive molecular studies [5,6,[18][19][20], five primary clades have been identified: Timaliidae, Leiotrichidae, Pellorneidae, Zosteropidae and Sylviidae. Previously, the circumscription of Timaliidae included the majority of the 'babblers', whereas Sylviidae was traditionally applied to various groups of 'warblers' (review in [3]). Within Timaliidae, five species of Spelaeornis 'wren-babblers' were recognized [21,22], until Collar & Robson [23] split Spelaeornis chocolatinus into four species and moved the spotted wrenbabbler, Spelaeornis formosus, to the monotypic genus Elachura based on morphology and vocalizations.…”

“…These studies have revealed multiple examples, at both high and low levels, where the traditional classification has been contradicted. At lower taxonomic levels, rampant convergences in morphology or unequal rates of morphological divergence, often in combination with unusual biogeographic distributions, have confounded classifications based on phenotypic characters [2,3]. Some of the more notable examples of passerine species with previously misinterpreted relationships include the bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) [4][5][6], rail-babbler (Eupetes macrocercus) [7], white-bellied erpornis (Erpornis zantholeuca) [8,9], cinnamon ibon (Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus) [10], black-capped donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) [5,6,11], yellow-bellied fantail (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) [12], silktail (Lamprolia victoriae) [13], ground tit (Pseudopodoces humilis) [14,15] and malia (Malia grata) [16].…”