[Ornithology • 2018] Athene blewitti • The Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti is nested within the Currently Recognized Athene Clade: A Century-old Debate Addressed

Athene blewitti  (Hume, 1873)

in Koparde, Mehta, Reddy, et al., 2018.

 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192359 

Abstract

Range-restricted species generally have specific niche requirements and may often have unique evolutionary histories. Unfortunately, many of these species severely lack basic research, resulting in poor conservation strategies. The phylogenetic relationship of the Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti has been the subject of a century-old debate. The current classifications based on non-phylogenetic comparisons of morphology place the small owls of Asia into three genera, namely, Athene, Glaucidium, and Heteroglaux. Based on morphological and anatomical data, H. blewitti has been alternatively hypothesized to belong within Athene, Glaucidium, or its own monotypic genus Heteroglaux. To test these competing hypotheses, we sequenced six loci (~4300 bp data) and performed phylogenetic analyses of owlets. Mitochondrial and nuclear trees were not congruent in their placement of H. blewitti. However, both mitochondrial and nuclear combined datasets showed strong statistical support with high maximum likelihood bootstrap (>/ = 90) and Bayesian posterior probability values (>/ = 0.98) for H. blewitti being nested in the currently recognized Athene group, but not sister to Indian A. brama. The divergence of H. blewitti from its sister taxa was between 4.3 and 5.7 Ma coinciding with a period of drastic climatic changes in the Indian subcontinent. This study presented the first genetic analysis of H. blewitti, a Critically Endangered species, and addressed the long debate on the relationships of the Athene-Heteroglaux-Glaucidium complex. We recommend further studies with more data and complete taxon sampling to understand the biogeography of Indian Athene species.

Athene (Heteroglaux) blewitti, Athene brama & Glaucidium radiatum

Fig 1. Co-distributed Indian owlets show plumage similarity, however can be identified based on size and markings on the chest and forehead.
Presence of white spots and brown bars in case of Athene brama and Glaucidium radiatum respectively are identification keys.

Photo credits: color banded H. blewitti individual by Prachi Mehta,
A. brama and G. radiatum by Pankaj Koparde.

Distribution of few Palearctic and Oriental owlets as per Birdlife International (2015).
H. blewitti is the only range-restricted, rare owlet among Indian owlets.

Pankaj Koparde, Prachi Mehta, Sushma Reddy, Uma Ramakrishnan, Shomita Mukherjee and V. V. Robin. 2018. The Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti is nested within the Currently Recognized Athene clade: A Century-old Debate Addressed.  PLoS ONE. 13(2): e0192359. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192359

ResearchGate.net/publication/322942356_Heteroglaux_blewitti_nested_within_Athene_clade

facebook.com/PankajKoparde/posts/1630318547059062

[Ornithology • 2016] Ninox albifacies • Phylogenetic Relationships and Terrestrial Adaptations of the Extinct Laughing Owl, Sceloglaux albifacies (Aves: Strigidae)

Ninox albifacies [Sceloglaux a. albifacies] by John Gerrard Keulemans, drawn after living specimens owned by Walther Rothschild  wikipedia.org  

 DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12483

Abstract

The taxonomic affinities of the monotypic owl genus Sceloglaux Kaup, 1848 have been widely debated. Here, we present a high-coverage mitogenome for the sole member of the genus, New Zealand's extinct laughing owl (Sceloglaux albifacies Gray, 1845), and assess its phylogenetic relationships. Our results provide strong support for Sceloglaux being nested within Ninox Hodgson, 1837, as sister taxon to the clade containing the barking owl (Ninox connivens Latham, 1801), Sumba boobook (Ninox rudolfi Meyer, 1882), and morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae Gmelin, 1788). Accordingly, we synonymize Sceloglaux with Ninox, and recommend that the laughing owl hereafter be referred to as Ninox albifacies. Osteological analyses and a comparison of the wing and leg proportions of the laughing owl with those of other owls supports Gould's (1865) contention that it was largely a terrestrial owl, and predominantly caught prey on the ground. This is further supported by the relatively high abundance of terrestrial prey remains preserved in sediment deposits at former laughing owl nest sites.

Keywords: ancient DNA; birds; morphometrics; New Zealand; osteology; taxonomy

Conclusion

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA reveals that the New Zealand endemic laughing owl, formerly Sceloglaux albifacies, is nested within the genus Ninox. We therefore recommend that the laughing owl hereafter be referred to as Ninox albifacies. This result supports previous interpretations about the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon. A more complete molecular analysis, including all representatives of this diverse owl genus, is likely to provide interesting insights into the phylogeographic history of Ninox across the Asian and Australasian regions. Our morphometric and osteological analyses of N. albifacies identified a range of adaptations for a terrestrial lifestyle, but no loss of flight ability, suggesting that N. albifacies had adapted to occupy the niche of a large nocturnal predator of a predominantly ground-dwelling fauna.

Jamie R. Wood, Kieren J. Mitchell, R. Paul Scofield, Vanesa L. De Pietri, Nicolas J. Rawlence and Alan Cooper. 2016. Phylogenetic Relationships and Terrestrial Adaptations of the Extinct Laughing Owl, Sceloglaux albifacies (Aves: Strigidae).
 Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.  DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12483

[Ornithology • 2016] The Rediscovery of Strix butleri (Hume, 1878) in Oman and Iran, with Molecular Resolution of the Identity of Strix omanensis Robb, van den Berg & Constantine, 2013

Fig. 2. (c) Strix butleri after release, Mashhad, Iran, 23 January 2015 (Seyed Babak Musavi)  
 (b) Strix butleri captured at the type locality of ‘Strix omanensis’, Al Hajar range, Oman, 2 March 2015 (Magnus S. Robb & Alyn J. Walsh).

Abstract

Background: Most species of owls (Strigidae) represent cryptic species and their taxonomic study is in flux. In recent years, two new species of owls of the genus Strix have been described from the Arabian peninsula by different research teams. It has been suggested that one of these species, S. omanensis, is not a valid species but taxonomic comparisons have been hampered by the lack of specimens of S. omanensis, and the poor state of the holotype of S. butleri. 

Methods: Here we use new DNA sequence data to clarify the taxonomy and nomenclature of the S. butleri complex. We also report the capture of a single S. butleri in Mashhad, Iran. 

Results: A cytochrome b sequence of S. omanensis was found to be identical to that of the holotype of S. butleri, indicating that the name S. omanensis is best regarded as a junior synonym of S. butleri. The identity of the S. butleri captured in Mashhad, Iran, was confirmed using DNA sequence data. This represents a major (1,400 km) range extension of this species. 

Conclusions: The population discovered in Oman in 2013 and originally named ‘S. omanensis’ actually represents the rediscovery of S. butleri, which was known from a single specimen and had not been recorded since 1878. The range of S. butleri extends into northeast Iran. Our study augments the body of evidence for the recognition of S. butleri and S. hadorami as separate species and highlights the importance of using multiple evidence to study cryptic owl species.

Keywords: molecular identification, nomenclature, phylogenetics, Strigidae, Strix, taxonomy

Magnus S. Robb, George Sangster, Mansour Aliabadian, Arnoud B. van den Berg, Mark Constantine, Martin Irestedt, Ali Khani, Seyed Babak Musavi, João M. G. Nunes, Maïa Sarrouf Willson, Alyn J. Walsh. 2015. The Rediscovery of Strix butleri (Hume, 1878) in Oman and Iran, with Molecular Resolution of the Identity of Strix omanensis Robb, van den Berg and Constantine, 2013. BioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/025122
researchgate.net/publication/301676130_The_rediscovery_of_Strix_butleri_Hume_1878_in_Oman_and_Iran_with_molecular_resolution_of_the_identity_of_Strix_omanensis_Robb_van_den_Berg_and_Constantine_2013

http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/08/20/025122

Omani Owl species status confirmed with radical range increase

http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__16052

[Ornithology • 2015] Strix hadorami | Desert Tawny Owl • Multiple Lines of Evidence confirm that Hume’s Owl Strix butleri (A. O. Hume, 1878) is Two Species, with Description of An Unnamed Species (Aves: Non-Passeriformes: Strigidae)

Strix sp. in the Judean desert of Israel, probably the Desert Tawny Owl (Strix hadorami).

photo: Thomas Krumenacker | krumenacker.de

ABSTRACT 

Genetic and morphological analyses revealed that the type specimen of Hume’s Owl Strix butleri, the geographical provenance of which is open to doubt, differs significantly from all other specimens previously ascribed to this species. Despite the absence of vocal data definitively linked to the same population as the type specimen, we consider that two species-level taxa are involved, principally because the degree of molecular differentiation is close to that seen in other taxa of Strix traditionally recognised as species. Partially complicating this otherwise straightforward issue is the recent description of “Omani Owl S. omanensis” from northern Oman based solely on photographs and sound-recordings. We consider that there is clear evidence of at least some morphological congruence between the butleri type and the phenotype described as “omanensis”. As a result, we review the relative likelihood of three potential hypotheses: that “omanensis” is a synonym of butleri; that “omanensis” is a subspecies of butleri; or that “omanensis” and butleri both represent species taxa. Until such time as specimen material of “omanensis” becomes available for genetic and comparative morphological analyses, we recommend that this name be considered as a synonym of butleri, especially bearing in mind the possibility (not previously considered in detail) that the type of butleri could have originated in Arabia, specifically from Oman. We describe other populations heretofore ascribed to S. butleri as a new species.

Keywords: taxonomy, mitochondrial DNA, Strix butleri, Strix omanensis

 Guy M Kirwan, Manuel Schweizer and José Luis Copete. 2015. Multiple Lines of Evidence confirm that Hume’s Owl Strix butleri (A. O. Hume, 1878) is Two Species, with Description of An Unnamed Species (Aves: Non-Passeriformes: Strigidae).
Zootaxa. 3904(1): 28–50. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3904.1.2

researchgate.net/publication/270448197_Multiple_lines_of_evidence_confirm_that_Humes_Owl_Strix_butleri_(A._O._Hume_1878)_is_two_species_with_description_of_an_unnamed_species_(Aves_Non-Passeriformes_Strigidae)

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FE08BF4A-EB0A-4AA0-A933-5B01449187CE

Desert Tawny Owl Strix hadorami: New Species of Bird Discovered

A group of ornithologists led by Dr Manuel Schweizer from the Natural History Museum of Bern in Switzerland
has described a new cryptic species of owl that inhabits the desert areas of Israel, Egypt,
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Yemen.

http://www.ornithomedia.com/magazine/etudes/nouvelle-espece-proposee-chouette-hadoram-strix-hadorami-01636.html

http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-desert-tawny-owl-strix-hadorami-new-species-bird-02432.html

[Ornithology • 2013] Strix omanensis | Omani Owl | Omaanse Uil • A New Species of Strix Owl from Oman

  Omani Owl Strix omanensis is probably most closely related to Hume’s Owl Strix butleri. Both species share a number of morphological features which differ from other Strix species, including relatively long legs and short tail, bands on wings and tail, orangey eyes and pale underparts. Both species also occupy rather similar rocky desert habitat although, so far, Omani has only been found on high cliffs, not in shallow wadis. In this context, it is worthwhile to mention that there are no records of Hume’s in northern Oman or the United Arab Emirates (Jennings 2010, Porter & Aspinall 2010).

.............

Magnus Robb, Arnoud B van den Berg and Mark Constantine. 2013. A New Species of Strix Owl from Oman. Dutch Birding. 35 (5): 275–310. | dutchbirding.nl 

Holotype of Omani Owl [Omaanse Uil] Strix omanensis 
Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Al Hajar mountains, Al Batinah, Oman, 24 May 2013

photo: Arnoud B van den Berg / The Sound Approach

Holotype of Omani Owl [Omaanse Uil] Strix omanensis
photo: Arnoud B van den Berg / The Sound Approach

Magnus Robb, Arnoud B van den Berg and Mark Constantine. 2013. A New Species of Strix Owl from Oman. Dutch Birding. 35 (5): 275–310.

http://www.dutchbirding.nl/content/news/files/DB35(5)275-310_2013_OmaniOwl.pdf

Heads turn at new owl species discovered in Oman  

A new owl species has been discovered in the remote Jebel Akdhar mountains in Oman, ornithologists working in the Gulf state reported this week.

The Scottish wildlife sound-recordist, Magnus Robb, wrote Strix omanensis officially exists from Oct. 4 on the website of “The Sound Approach,” an international project aiming to record and understand bird sounds.

“Shaped like a strix owl, it [the new species] lacked ear-tufts and appeared slightly smaller-headed than a tawny owl,” Robb described the exotic owl on the project’s website.

Robb first recorded the bird’s unfamiliar hoot during an unexpected discovery in March this year.

cont. http://ara.tv/zykxx via @AlArabiya_Eng

Nieuws: Een nieuwe soort Strix-uil in Oman / A new species of Strix owl from Oman: http://www.dutchbirding.nl/news.php?id=866 via @DutchBirding

http://soundapproach.co.uk/omani-owl-diary-of-discovery

[Ornithology • 2013] A Reappraisal of the Systematic Affinities of Socotran, Arabian and East African Scops Owls (Otus, Strigidae) using a Combination of Molecular, Biometric and Acoustic Data

Arabian Scops Owl | Otus pamelae

in Wadi Darbat, Dhofar by Shanfari: http://flic.kr/p/9oWTzZ

We investigated phylogenetic relationships among Otus scops owls from Socotra Island, the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa using molecular, vocalization and biometric data. The Socotra Scops Owl Otus senegalensis socotranus, currently treated as a subspecies of the African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis, is more closely related to the Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia and to the endemic Seychelles Scops Owl Otus insularis. Considerable mitochondrial genetic distance and significant morphological differentiation from its two closest relatives, as well as its distinctive vocalizations compared with O. insularis, strongly support recognition of Socotra Scops Owl as a full species. Unexpectedly, two taxa from the Arabian Peninsula, Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei and African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis pamelae, represent very distinct lineages; O. brucei is basal to a clade that includes taxa found in the Indo-Malayan region and on Indian Ocean islands. In contrast, O. s. pamelae occupies a well-supported basal position within a clade of continental Afro-Palaearctic taxa. The uncorrected-p genetic distance between O. s. pamelae and its closest relatives (other populations of senegalensis from mainland Africa) is c. 4%. As O. s. pamelae is also well differentiated phylogenetically, morphologically and vocally from O. s. senegalensis, we recommend its elevation to species status, as Otus pamelae. Among mainland African O. senegalensis subspecies, Ethiopian populations appear to represent the most divergent lineage, whereas other lineages from Somalia, Kenya and South Africa are poorly differentiated. The large genetic distance between the Ethiopian haplotype and other African haplotypes (3.2%) suggests that the Ethiopian Otus may represent a cryptic taxon, and we recommend that more individuals be sampled to assess the taxonomic status of this population.

Keywords: biogeography; Indian Ocean Islands; Indo-Malaya; phylogeny; Socotra Island; taxonomy

Figure 1. Map depicting the geographical range of Otus taxa in the region of interest.
Afro-Palaearctic clade: A1 = Otus senegalensis pamelae; A2 = Otus scops; A3 = Otus pembaensis; A4 = Otus hartlaubi; A5 = Otus senegalensis.
 Indo-Malayan/Indian Ocean clade: i1 = Otus brucei; i2 = Otus moheliensis; i3 = Otus pauliani; i4 = Otus capnodes; i5 = Otus mayottensis; i6 = Otus rutilus; i7 = Otus madagascariensis; i8 = Otus senegalensis socotranus; i9 = Otus insularis; i10 = Otus sunia.

DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12041

Arabian Scops Owl, Otus senegalensis subsp. pamelae,

in Wadi Darbat, Dhofar by Shanfari.net | http://flic.kr/p/9oWTzZ

Jean-Marc Pons, Guy M. Kirwan, Richard F. Porter and Jérôme Fuchs. 2013. A Reappraisal of the Systematic Affinities of Socotran, Arabian and East African Scops Owls (Otus, Strigidae) using a Combination of Molecular, Biometric and Acoustic Data. Ibis. 155(3); 518–533. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ibi.12041

[Ornithology • 1999] Glaucidium nubicola | Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl • A new species of Pygmy-owl (Strigidae: Glaucidium) from the Pacific slope of the Northern Andes

Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nubicola 

painting Tracy Pedersen | http://ornitaxa.com

Abstract

We describe a new species of pygmy-owl that is restricted to very wet cloud forest at 1,400 to 2,000 m in elevation along the Pacific slope of the western Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. This taxon had been long overlooked as a result of its morphological similarity and geographic proximity to the Andean Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium jardinii), but it is vocally very distinct and exhibits subtle but consistent morphological differences as well. Vocally, the new species is most similar to the Costa Rican-Panamanian form G. costaricanum and to the nominate subspecies of Northern Pygmy-Owl (G. gnoma), but again, consistent differences exist in vocalizations and morphology. Glaucidium costaricanum has long been considered a subspecies of G. jardinii, but at least one recent author treated it as a subspecies of G. gnoma. Genetic, vocal, ecological, and morphological data indicate that G. costaricanum should be elevated to species level, and it along with the new species are considered allospecies within the Northern Pygmy-Owl superspecies complex. 

Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nubicola 

Distribution: western Colombia; western Ecuador: wet cloud forests of western Andes between 1400-2000 m

Robbins, M. B. & F. G. Stiles. 1999. A new species of Pygmy-owl (Strigidae: Glaucidium) from the Pacific slope of the Northern Andes. The Auk. 116: 305-315.

http://www2.nrm.se/ve/birds/sape/GlobalOwlProject/Glaucidium/Glaucidium%20nubicola%20(Robbins%20&%20Stiles)%201999,%20Auk,%20116,%20pages%20305-315%20(front%20cover)..pdf

http://www.ornitaxa.com/SM/New/NewTypicalOwls.htm

2003. Notes on the distribution, habitat and conservation of the Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium nubicola) in Ecuador. Ornitologia Neotropical 14: 275-278.

http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/links/neo/revista/pdf%20revistas/14-2/14_275-278.pdf

2010. Nuevo registro del Buhito nubícola (Glaucidium nubicola) en la cordillera Occidental de Colombia

http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/20(1)/NC6_20(1)_2010.pdf