Sunday, August 26, 2012

[Ornithology • 2012] Phylogeny of woodcreepers of the genus Lepidocolaptes (Passeriformes: Furnariidae), a widespread Neotropical taxon


Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii 
2011, El Oro, Ecuador | Dušan M. Brinkhuizen © 


Phylogeny of woodcreepers of the genus Lepidocolaptes (Aves, Furnariidae), a widespread Neotropical taxon. The phylogeny of the genus Lepidocolaptes was reconstructed based on three mitochondrial DNA regions and one nuclear DNA intron, using Bayesian analysis. A general pattern of diversification among the lowland species followed by the diversification of highland species, and a close relationship among montane species with the two Atlantic Forest endemics, seem to depict the history of this genus. Results also showed that the two Mesoamerican species are sister-taxa with high support. Finally, our data also suggest the existence of previously unknown intraspecific genetic structure within some taxa, especially among populations of Lepidocolaptes souleyetii.




Arbeláez-Cortés, E., Navarro-Sigüenza, A. G. & García-Moreno J. 2012. Phylogeny of woodcreepers of the genus Lepidocolaptes (Aves, Furnariidae), a widespread Neotropical taxon. Zoologica Scripta. 41, 363–373.