Phylogeny of babblers (Aves, Passeriformes): major lineages, family limits and classification

Abstract

Babblers, family Timaliidae, have long been subject to debate on systematic position, family limits and internal taxonomy. In this study, we use five molecular regions to estimate the relationships among a large proportion of genera traditionally placed in Timaliidae. We find good support for five main clades within this radiation, and propose a new classification, dividing the babblers into the families Sylviidae and Timaliidae. Within the latter family, four subfamilies are recognized: Zosteropinae, Timaliinae, Pellorneinae and Leiothrichinae. Several taxa, previously not studied with molecular data, are phylogenetically placed within Sylviidae or Timaliidae. This is, however, not the case for the genus Pnoepyga, for which we propose the family name Pnoepygidae fam. n.

Published in

Zoologica Scripta
2009, Volume: 38, number: 3, pages: 225-236

SLU Authors

• Alström, Per

  • SLU Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Biodiversity


UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00374.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/34958