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)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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."