Myrmelastes Explained

Myrmelastes is a genus of passerine birds in the family Thamnophilidae. Most of these species were previously placed in the genus Schistocichla. The genus formerly included only three species, but several taxa previously considered subspecies of the spot-winged antbird have been elevated to species status.

The genus contains eight species:[1]

These species were formerly placed in the genus Schistocichla which had been erected by the American ornithologist W.E. Clyde Todd in 1927 with spot-winged antbird as the type species.[2] A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2013 found that the plumbeous antbird which had previously been placed in the genus Myrmeciza was instead a member of a clade containing species in the genus Schistocichla.[3] The plumbeous antbird was the type species of the genus Myrmelastes which had been introduced by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1858.[4] [5] [6] This was much earlier than Schistocichla, Todd 1927, and had precedence.[1]

The Humaita antbird, brownish-headed antbird, rufous-faced antbird and Roraiman antbird were formerly considered as subspecies of the spot-winged antbird. They were promoted to species status based on detailed studies of the plumage and vocal characteristics.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . 2018 . Antbirds . World Bird List Version 8.1 . International Ornithologists' Union . 30 January 2018 .
  2. Todd . W. E. Clyde . W. E. Clyde Todd . 1927 . New gnateaters and antbirds from tropical America, with a revision of the genus Myrmeciza and its allies . Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington . 40 . 149–177 [165] .
  3. Isler . M.L. . Bravo . G.A. . Brumfield . R.T. . 2013 . Taxonomic revision of Myrmeciza (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) into 12 genera based on phylogenetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data . Zootaxa . 3717 . 4 . 469–497 . 10.11646/zootaxa.3717.4.3 . 26176119 .
  4. Sclater . Philip Lutley . Philip Sclater . 1858 . Synopsis of the American ant-birds (Formicariidae). Part III. containing the third subfamily Formicariinae, or Ant-thrushes . Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London . 26 . 272–289 [274] . 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1858.tb06377.x .
  5. Book: Sclater, Philip . Philip Sclater . 1890 . Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum . 15 . London . British Museum . 180, 193 . Note that Myrmelastese plumbeus Sclater = Thamnophilus hyperythrus Sclater.
  6. Todd . W. E. Clyde . W. E. Clyde Todd . 1927 . New gnateaters and antbirds from tropical America, with a revision of the genus Myrmeciza and its allies . Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington . 40 . 149–177 [172–173] .
  7. Braun . M.J. . Isler . M.L. . Isler . P.R. . Bates . J.M. . Robbins . M.B. . 2005 . Avian speciation in the Pantepui: the case of the Roraiman Antbird (Percnostola [''Schistocichla''] "leucostigma" saturata) . Condor . 107 . 2 . 327–341 . 10.1650/7647 . 1808/19238 . 15452230 . free .
  8. Isler . M.L. . Isler . P.R. . Whitney . B.M. . Zimmer . K.J. . 2007 . Species limits in the "Schistocichla" complex of Percnosticla antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) . Wilson Journal of Ornithology . 119 . 1 . 53–70 . 10.1676/05-121.1 . 84340283 .
  9. Web site: Robbins . Mark . Proposal (240): Recognize Percnostola [''Schistocichla''] saturata (Thamnophilidae) as a species separate from P. leucostigma ]. South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society . August 2006 . 31 January 2018 .
  10. Web site: Lebbin . Daniel . Proposal (301): Elevate subspecies humaythae, brunneiceps, and rufifacies (within Schistocichla leucostigma) to species rank . South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society . August 2007 . 31 January 2018 .

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