Revival of the genus Tropicoperdix Blyth 1859 (Phasianidae, Aves) using multilocus sequence data. (14th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, De; Liu, Yang; Davison, Geoffrey W. H.; Dong, Lu; Chang, Jiang; Gao, Shenghan; Li, Shou‐Hsien; Zhang, Zhengwang
• Is Part Of: Zoological journal of the Linnean Society. Volume 175:Number 2(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2015-05-14
• Subjects: Zoology -- Periodicals; 590
• DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12273
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-4082

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Although <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic> has been considered to be either a full genus or a species complex within the Phasianid genus <italic>Arborophila</italic> (hill partridges), there is long‐standing uncertainty regarding the degree of difference that warrants generic separation, including reported anatomical cranial differences. In addition, the intra‐generic taxonomy remains under dispute. Most studies hypothesize that <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic> comprises three species, while others postulate from one to four species. However, no molecular study has been performed to clarify the systematic and taxonomic uncertainties surrounding <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic>. In the present study, we performed a series of molecular phylogenetic analyses of <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic> and <italic>Arborophila</italic> taxa based on two mitochondrial genes and five nuclear introns. All the results are consistent with the finding that <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic> and <italic>Arborophila</italic> are phylogenetically distinct and distant genera, although the precise phylogenetic position of <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic> remains undetermined. Retrospective examination of external characteristics also supports the generic separation, as well as providing evidence of remarkable multiple character convergence. We propose that <italic>Tropicoperdix</italic> comprises at least two full species based on mitochondrial data obtained from museum specimens by using a next‐generation sequencing method. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London</p> </abstract>