Type specimens matter: new insights on the systematics, taxonomy and nomenclature of the subalpine warbler (Sylvia cantillans) complex

Abstract

We revise the taxonomy of the Sylvia cantillans complex, a group of phenotypically distinct warblers with mainly parapatric distributions around a large part of the Mediterranean basin. We redefine the species limits using a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear markers and we objectively link available names to the genetically defined lineages by genotyping the surviving type specimens. In addition, the study of archival documents clarifies the exact composition of type series and provides further evidence for the identification of lost types. These results support the recognition of three species-level taxa: Moltoni’s warbler, Sylvia subalpina (north-central Italy, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics); the western subalpine warbler, S. iberiae (North Africa, Iberia, southern France and extreme north-west Italy); and the eastern subalpine warbler, S. cantillans, with subspecies S. cantillans cantillans (southern Italy, Sicily) and S. cantillans albistriata (Balkans, Greece, western Turkey).

Avian Haemosporidian Diversity on Sardinia: A First General Assessment for the Insular Mediterranean

“…During the Pleistocene, the Western Mediterranean islands (i.e., Balearic Islands, Corsica, Tuscan Archipelago and Sardinia) acted as a glacial refugium for several organisms [29], and through subsequent isolation mechanisms became an important biodiversity hotspot in Europe [30]. Sardinia hosts a very rich avifauna including 163 breeding bird species [31], of which several are endemic taxa or have unique genotypes relative to mainland populations [32][33][34][35][36]. In addition, the breeding avifauna is comprised of both sedentary species (or populations) and migratory species.…”

Phylogeography of Lanius senator reveals conflicts between alpha taxonomy, subspecies ranges and genetics

“…The differentiation could be due to a refugial isolation during the Last Glacial Maximum or evolutionary diversification mediated by insular isolation. Differently from Lanius senator, well-defined Mediterranean lineages were found in different migratory birds to include Muscicapa tyrrhenica, Curruca sarda and the Curruca cantillans complex (Pons et al 2016;Zuccon et al 2020;Nespoli et al 2021), as well as several mammals, butterflies, and reptiles (Grill et al 2007).…”

Disentangling the taxonomic status and phylogeographic structure of Marmora’s (Curruca sarda) and Balearic Warbler (Curruca balearica): a genetic multi-marker approach

“…Recent studies on several bird taxa traditionally regarded as single 'biological' species have revealed the existence of morphologically similar (or nearly so) populations which are so highly diverging in terms of genetics and vocalizations that definitely belong to separate taxa (e.g. Curruca subalpina, cantillans and iberiae, Brambilla et al 2008;Zuccon et al 2020;Muscicapa tyrrhenica, Pons et al 2016). This kind of research has recently led to similar results not only in birds but also in many other groups of vertebrates, including amphibians (e.g.…”

“…Galimberti et al 2021). In this context, the application of advanced and integrative analytical methods is needed to shed light on the species complexes, but it is also useful in cases of apparently known and widespread taxa (Ancillotto et al 2020;Zuccon et al 2020;Pellegrino et al, 2017). The Mediterranean area is a biodiversity hotspot, but it is under threat from a high population density and the consequent human pressure on ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss (Cutteload et al 2008).…”