Relationships among the four species of the superspecies Celeus elegans (Aves, Picidae)

Related Titles

Series: American Museum novitates, no. 2487

By

Short, Lester L.

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

New York, N.Y American Museum of Natural History [1972]

Notes

Title from caption.

"May 9, 1972."

"Four allospecies (semispecies auct.), castaneus, elegans, lugubris, and flavescens comprise the superspecies Celeus (elegans) elegans. These species share basic color patterns, bill structure, and proportions setting them apart from related species of Celeus. Celeus lugubris frequently has been merged in C. flavescens, but these two species approach each other closely in their distribution without apparent interbreeding. In contrast, at least two hybrids of C. lugubris x C. elegans, which barely meet in Mato Grosso, indicate their close relationship. Celeus flavescens ochraceus meets and overlaps somewhat with C. elegans jumana in northeastern Brazil without interbreeding. Celeus castaneus a monotypic Middle American species is related most closely to C. elegans, although showing some peculiar features. Celeus flavescens probably is an older, and C. lugubris a somewhat younger, independent derivative of an ancestor in common with C. elegans. Variation in C. elegans, C. flavescens, and C. lugubris suggests that introgressive hybridization may have affected all three species in the past, and may be affecting C. lugubris lugubris today. Celeus elegans and C. flavescens are strongly polytypic, with distinct races or racial groups in secondary contact. Celeus lugubris is polytypic, with two moderately marked races"--P. [1].

Subjects

Birds , Celeus elegans , Central America , Classification , Hybridization , South America , Woodpeckers

Call Number

QL1 .A436 no.2487, 1972

Language

English

Identifiers

OCLC: 45635462