2011/08/24 by Árpád S. Nyári, Leo Joseph · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Avian ecology and behavior #Biology #Clade #Ecology #Genetic diversity and population structure #Genus #Monophyly #Phylogenetic tree #Sister group #Species Distribution and Climate Change #Taxon #Zoology
paper · doi:10.1071/mu10047
openalex publication_date 2011/08/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Evaluations of relationships among honeyeaters (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae) have used dense taxon and nucleotide sampling. Here we focus on the systematically contentious meliphagid genus Lichenostomus. We use data from two molecular markers that were common to two major recent studies, the mitochondrial protein-coding gene ND2 and the nuclear intron Fib5. Based on complete species-level sampling of Lichenostomus, we confirm the recent finding that Lichenostomus is not monophyletic. We recover seven distinct lineages dispersed within the meliphagid assemblage. Two uniform and unadorned species, the White-gaped (L. unicolor) and Yellow (L. flavus) Honeyeaters, were sister species close to some other taxa currently placed in Lichenostomus. The only two mangrove specialists, the Varied (L. versicolor) and Mangrove (L. fasciogularis) Honeyeaters from north-eastern and central-eastern Australia respectively, were not sisterspecies, but the former was sister to the pair comprising Mangrove Honeyeater and the widespread Singing Honeyeater (L. virescens). Two endemic New Guinean species, the Obscure (L. obscurus) and Black-throated (L. subfrenatus) Honeyeaters, are a sister pair to the Yellow-faced Honeyeater (L. chrysops) of eastern Australia. We suggest a revised generic nomenclature for the species recently placed in Lichenostomus and erect one new genus-group name, Bolemoreus, to include two species that have been previously grouped in Caligavis.