Taxonomic revision of Myrmeciza (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) into 12 genera based on phylogenetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data
Abstract
A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the family Thamnophilidae indicated that the genus Myrmeciza (Gray) is not monophyletic. Species currently assigned to the genus are found in three of the five tribes comprising the subfamily Tham-nophilinae. Morphological, behavioral, and ecological character states of species within these tribes and their closest rel-atives were compared to establish generic limits. As a result of this analysis, species currently placed in Myrmeciza are assigned to Myrmeciza and eleven other genera, four of which (Myrmelastes Sclater, Myrmoderus Ridgway, Myrmophylax Todd, and Sipia Hellmayr) are resurrected, and seven of which (Ammonastes, Ampelornis, Aprositornis, Hafferia, Inundi-cola, Poliocrania, and Sciaphylax) are newly described. Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press.