Abstract
ABSTRACT Taxonomy of the Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus complex has long been contentious and remains incompletely resolved. Its many populations are distributed widely but disjunctly and show only subtle distinction in morphology and plumage. Genetic data are meagre and have not been correlated with phenotype. We conducted a phenotypic analysis across its range and obtained mitochondrial DNA sequences from most populations. We recognise three species: south-eastern Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus sensu stricto, Opalton Grasswren Amytornis rowleyi in central Queensland and Rufous Grasswren Amytornis whitei in the remainder of the range, with subspecies in the Pilbara and in the central and western deserts. In A. striatus as so circumscribed, we separate allopatric Murray Mallee and central New South Wales populations subspecifically. Isolated populations of Rufous Grasswren, from the North West Cape Peninsula, Western Australia and Eyre Peninsula, South Australia are also distinct. Awareness of such unanticipated diversity within the group has profound implications for conservation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
