Proposal (#305) to South American Classification Committee

Change linear sequence of species in Thamnophilus

Effect on SACC: This would rearrange the linear sequence of species in the genus to conform to recently published phylogenetic data.

Background & Analysis: With passage of Prop. 278, the current SACC sequence is:

doliatus
zarumae
multistriatus
tenuepunctatus
palliatus
nigriceps
praecox
nigrocinereus
cryptoleucus
aethiops
unicolor
schistaceus
murinus
aroyae
bernardi
atrinucha
punctatus
stictocephalus
sticturus
pelzelni
ambiguus
amazonicus
melanonotus
melanothorax
insignis
divisorius
caerulescens
torquatus
ruficapillus

This sequence no longer reflects the well-supported phylogenetic hypotheses of Brumfield and Edwards (2007), and perpetuates a number of misconceptions, e.g., (1) that torquatus and ruficapillus form a group with caerulescens rather than with the major group of striped Thamnophilus (doliatus group), and (2) that atrinucha is part of the punctatus group [which should also generate a proposal on the currently hyphenated English name of atrinucha].

A sequence that would reflect Brumfield & Edwards Fig. F (combined data set) and that uses the conventions of linear sequences (basal taxa first; NW to SE sequence in allopatric sister groupings; minimize changes to status quo sequence when possible) is as follows (with well-supported groups indicated in similar color and separated by spaces):

doliatus
ruficapillus
torquatus
zarumae
multistriatus
tenuepunctatus
palliatus

bernardi
atrinucha (extralimital bridgesi, sister to atrinucha, would go here in a complete list)

schistaceus
murinus

nigriceps
praecox

cryptoleucus
nigrocinereus

punctatus (no changes within this group because of missing taxa in genetic analysis)
stictocephalus
sticturus
pelzelni
ambiguus

caerulescens
unicolor
aethiops
aroyae

melanonotus

melanothorax

amazonicus

insignis
divisorius

Recommendation: With all the usual caveats about the arbitrariness of some aspects of linear sequences, the proposed new one certainly highlights phylogenetic relationships better than any previous sequence, so YES.

V. Remsen, August 2007
(in consultation with Robb Brumfield)

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Comments from Jaramillo: "YES - The new arrangement reflects newest data, and makes sense based on various aspects of plumage, distribution, ecology, voice etc."

Comments from Stiles: "YES. This proposal clearly reflects the substantial new phylogenetic data better than our preceding order."

Comments from Robbins: "YES. The proposal incorporates Brumfield and Edward's (2007) molecular data that significantly have improved our understanding of relationships within this genus."

Comments from Nores: "YES. El nuevo ordenamiento aparece mucho más lógico que el de SACC y está de acuerdo con un análisis molecular bien fundamentado. De todos modos, tiene las limitaciones de los análisis moleculares señalados en otras propuestas.

Comments from Zimmer: "YES. The proposed sequence is certainly more accurate with respect to the position of atrinucha, ruficapillus, and torquatus."