Abstract
Introduction: South American siskins (Genus Carduelis/Spinus) are the outcome of regional evolutionary radiation from an extant (or other extinct) species: C. notata, a North America siskin, which thrives in Mexico subtropical areas and is parental of one of the three described North American siskin radiations. Methods: Speciation and/or subspeciation of this South American siskin radiation have probably occurred during Pleistocene Epoch. In the present paper, a new species/subspecies akin to C./S. atrata is described by genetic and phenotypic parameters: this new species/subspecies was previously considered a subspecies of C./S. xanthogastra, which thrives further North and is separated about 1,762 km, 1,094 miles, from this described subspecies, Carduelis/ Spinus xanthogastra stejnegeri. Results: Our genetic study using mt cyt b, phenotypic and behavior observations show that this putative C./S. xanthogastra subspecies is either a different species or a C./S. atrata subspecies; we have proposed a provisional name for this finch, C./S. lapazensis, instead of C./S. x. stejnegeri. Conclusion: Species definition is movable and controversial, and it is uncertain in South American siskins, which all show a close genetic and phenotypical relationship, which may be still immersed in speciation processes since Pleistocene Epoch.
Highlights
South American siskins (Genus Carduelis/Spinus) are the outcome of regional evolutionary radiation from an extant species: C. notata, a North America siskin, which thrives in Mexico subtropical areas and is parental of one of the three described North American siskin radiations
The estimated divergence time for most of the genus Carduelis species suggests that they appeared in a range of time between the Miocene and Pliocene; there is no evidence for a divergence time consistent with late Pleistocene origin for most radiation groups [6 - 10]
It is possible that certain Carduelis birds, classically considered as subspecies, originated during Pleistocene glaciations i. e.: the divergence time calculated for C. carduelis subspecies is less than 800,000 years [6 - 10]
Summary
South American siskins (Genus Carduelis/Spinus) are the outcome of regional evolutionary radiation from an extant (or other extinct) species: C. notata, a North America siskin, which thrives in Mexico subtropical areas and is parental of one of the three described North American siskin radiations. Genus Carduelis (family Fringillidae, subfamily Fringillinae, tribe Carduelini) includes goldfinches, siskins, redpolls, greenfinches, and crossbills, among others [1, 2]. It comprises over 30 species, and it is widespread all over the World except for Subsaharan Africa and Australia. The estimated divergence time for most of the genus Carduelis species suggests that they appeared in a range of time between the Miocene and Pliocene; there is no evidence for a divergence time consistent with late Pleistocene origin for most radiation groups [6 - 10]. It is possible that certain Carduelis birds, classically considered as subspecies, originated during Pleistocene glaciations i. e.: the divergence time calculated for C. carduelis subspecies (greyheaded Asian and black-headed European goldfinch) is less than 800,000 years [6 - 10]
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