Proposal (926) to South American Classification Committee

Change linear sequence of species in Epinecrophylla

This proposal would alter the current linear sequence of species in Epinecrophylla based on phylogenetic information.

Background: SACC’s current linear sequence for the genus Epinecrophylla is as follows (Remsen et al. 2021):

Epinecrophylla fulviventris

Epinecrophylla gutturalis

Epinecrophylla leucophthalma

Epinecrophylla haematonota

Epinecrophylla amazonica

Epinecrophylla spodionota

Epinecrophylla ornata

Epinecrophylla erythrura

New Information:

Johnson et al. (2021) published a phylogeny of Epinecrophylla based on roughly 2,500 ultraconserved element loci. All species-level relationships in the genus received full statistical support and were consistent across phylogenetic methods. Below is a screenshot for part of Figure 2A that shows the phylogeny estimated for all individuals in ExaBayes. In that phylogeny, all nodes received full statistical support unless denoted by a circle.

In contrast to the species-level relationships, the phylogenetic position of the taxon pyrrhonota was inconsistent across analyses, but this taxon is not currently considered a species by the SACC, so is not relevant to the linear sequence. A separate proposal will be submitted regarding the taxonomic status of pyrrhonota.

The species tree estimated in SNAPP using all sampled taxa is shown below, which better illustrates the species-level relationships in the genus. The DensiTree cloudogram is shown on the left (A) and the species tree on the right (B). Note the differing position of pyrrhonota with regard to haematonota/fjeldsaai, in comparison to the phylogeny shown above. Regardless of the taxonomic status of pyrrhonota, the placement of E. haematonota in the linear sequence would come before E. amazonica and E. spodionota.

Analysis:

Following the SACC conventions of placing species-poor lineages first in the linear sequence, and species-rich lineages last, plus the northwest-to-southeast convention for sister species, the updated linear sequence would be:

Epinecrophylla fulviventris

Epinecrophylla ornata

Epinecrophylla erythrura

Epinecrophylla leucophthalma

Epinecrophylla gutturalis

Epinecrophylla haematonota

Epinecrophylla spodionota

Epinecrophylla amazonica

Recommendation:

I recommend a YES vote to change the current sequence to the new sequence, which better reflects the phylogeny proposed by Johnson et al. (2021).

Literature Cited:

Johnson, O., J. T. Howard, and R. T. Brumfield. 2021. Systematics of a Neotropical clade of dead-leaf-foraging antwrens (Aves: Thamnophilidae; Epinecrophylla). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 154: 106962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106962

Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version November 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm

Oscar Johnson, November 2021

Comments from Remsen: “YES. Sequence must be changed to match solid phylogenetic data.”

Comments from Robbins: “YES for the new sequence.”

Comments from Lane: “YES. The phylogenetic study indicates that Oscar’s new arrangement is the best one.”

Comments from Areta: “YES. The new sequence matches the phylogenetic information of Johnson et al. (2021).”

Comments from Pacheco: “YES. The proposed linear sequence is well supported by the published data.”

Comments from Claramunt: “YES. The new sequence reflects well the phylogenetic relationships.”

Comments from Stiles: “YES.”

Comments from Jaramillo: “YES. The linear sequence change looks logical and based on good data.”