Proposal (1082) to South
American Classification Committee
Resurrect the genus Oxypelia
for Columbina cyanopis
Background: Our current
classification treats this species as Columbina cyanopis, as in all
classifications in recent decades. The
current SACC note is as follows:
13. Columbina cyanopis was formerly (e.g.,
Peters 1937, Pinto 1938, Hellmayr & Conover 1942) placed in a monotypic genus Oxypelia; most authors have followed Goodwin (1959b) in merging it
into Columbina, but see Johnston
(1961); it differs from other Columbina
species and is similar to Claravis in
having an attenuated first primary (Baptista et al. 1997). Vogeley
et al. (2026) showed using genetic and phenotypic data that cyanopis is sister to Paraclaravis and recommended resurrection of Oxypelia. SACC
proposal badly needed.
New
information:
Vogeley et al. (2026) sequenced 3 mitochondrial genes
(ND2, COI, Cyt-b) to produce the first phylogenetic hypothesis for newly
rediscovered and critically endangered Blue-eyed Ground Dove (Columbina cyanopis), with an estimated population of only 20
birds; see <<>> for the
details of this exciting discovery of a species that had beem thought by some
to be extinct.
The
genetic data showed that cyanopis was not a Columbina but rather the
sister to Paraclaravis:
Discussion
and recommendation:
The
genetic data leave only two possibilities for phylogenetic classification:
either resurrect Oxypelia or include Oxypelia in Paraclaravis.
Vogeley et al. provided the following rationale for
former, namely resurrection of Oxypelia. First, they emphasized the
ecological distinctiveness between the two bamboo-specialized, highly vagile Paraclaravis
and the rounded-winged, sedentary cyanopis, as quantified in their
morphological analyses. However, those
sort of distinctions can be found with many genera of birds and are the
consequences of adaptations to different niches. Nevertheless, all three
species share an attenuated outer primary, but otherwise similarities are few. Second,
Vogeley et al. emphasized that lineage age strongly
supports their treatment as separate genera because even if their estimates of
divergence times at 10 MYA are off, that estimate makes the split relatively older
than those that mark most clades of doves ranked at the genus level (and I
would add birds in general). This is the rationale that I favor for
resurrecting Oxypelia.
I
would further add that Goodwin (1959) provided no real rationale for the merger
of Oxypelia into Columbina other than “I think that the genera Eupelia, Columbigallina,
and Oxypelia are all best included in Columbina.” Nonetheless,
all subsequent classifications followed Goodwin evidently out of respect for
his expertise on the Columbidae rather than any explicit rationale. So, in my
opinion there was never any reason, much less evidence, for inclusion of Oxypelia
in Columbina.
So,
I strongly recommend a YES on this one.
A NO means placement in Paraclaravis.
References:
VOGELEY, P. H., F. H. HORST, A Â. BISPO, AND·R. CAPARROZ. 2026.
Phylogenetic analysis of the Blue‑eyed Ground Dove (Columbina
cyanopis) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences: revalidating the genus Oxypelia. Journal of Ornithology 167: 223–236.
Van Remsen,
July 2026
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Vote tracking chart:
https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCPropChart1044+.htm
Comments
from Robbins: “NO. If we are going to be consistent in our treatment with
other dove genera, we should place cyanopis in Paraclaravis,
i.e., note divergence time with other genera (Metriopelia). As far
as the wing shape and ecology, as Van points out, we find that diversity
(actually greater in some) in other dove genera. Thus, those differences don't
sway me in erecting yet another monotypic genus. So, NO to recognizing Oxypelia,
YES to placing in Paraclaravis.
Comments from
Lane: “I’m going to cut the other way
from Mark and vote YES to resurrecting Oxypelia. Using Metriopelia
as a comparison to me is actually a bit of a red herring as I think that genus
could stand to be split up due to some pretty distinct members! If the
relationships within groups that seemed pretty morphologically conservative in
the past (e.g., Columba and Geotrygon) I am inclined to reward
these fairly distinctive species in behavior and morphology (consider: no
sexual dimorphism in Oxypelia vs. Paraclaravis!).”
Comments from Areta: “YES to Oxypelia. Of course, we could place it
in Paraclaravis, but this does not seem the best alternative to me given
the deep divergence, structural (primary modifications), and plumage
differences. The fact that the two Paraclaravis are nomadic bamboo-seed
specialists of humid forests adds more drama to the situation.
“Mark has used Metriopelia as a yardstick, and
I was going to mention the same thing except that to raise a point in the other
direction: the genus Leptophaps has been used for aymara (see
Areta & Monteleone 2011), and in the near future Juliana Benitez and I may
argue in favour of its recognition as a separate
genus. Of course, it is nice to have the four Metriopelia in a single
genus, but the group is not as homogeneous as the current generic
classification seems to convey. Yet, this will require a nuanced discussion and
a detailed assessment of several features. Note that Leptophaps (aymara)
is less diverged from Metriopelia (including melanoptera and the
two “Gymnopelia”, ceciliae and morenoi), than the degree
of divergence between Oxypelia cyanopis and Paraclaravis (mondetoura
and geoffroyi)”