Abstract
Abstract Prinias (Cisticolidae: Prinia) are resident warblers of open areas across Africa and Asia and include many polytypic species whose species limits have not been seriously reevaluated recently. Based on an integrative taxonomic analysis of morphology, song, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we suggest that 2 species should be recognized in the Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) complex. In addition, our morphological analyses show the existence of a well-marked undescribed form in southeastern Somalia, which we name herein as a new subspecies. Prinia gracilis is a small, drab, long-tailed species with streaking above and plain pale underparts that has been suggested to fall into 2 groups: the southwestern nominate group (from Egypt to Oman) and the northeastern lepida group (from Turkey through India). However, the characters presented to justify this grouping are variable and show a mosaic pattern, and whether genetic and vocal differences exist is unknown. We found consistent between-group song differences, with the nominate group giving consistently longer inter-phrase intervals, whereas the members of the lepida group sing an essentially continuous reel. An mtDNA tree suggests a deep split between the nominate and lepida groups, with a coalescence time between these clades of ~ 2.2 million years ago. Vocal and mtDNA analyses provided evidence that the northeastern Arabian Peninsula taxon carpenteri belongs to the lepida group. We found that, of all the morphological characters proposed, only proportions and tail barring and spotting relatively consistently distinguish the 2 groups. However, these characters strongly suggest that the eastern Arabian Peninsula is populated by taxa of both the gracilis and lepida groups, in different areas, but we lack genetic and bioacoustic data to corroborate this. Although further study is needed in potential contact zones, we suggest that 2 species should be recognized in the P. gracilis complex, and we propose the retention of the English name Graceful Prinia for P. gracilis sensu stricto, while we suggest that P. lepida be known as Delicate Prinia.
Highlights
The Old World “warbler” family Cisticolidae is part of the superfamily Sylvioidea sensu Fregin et al (2012), which includes a paraphyletic grouping of several Old World “warbler” families from which Cisticolidae diverged around 23 million years ago (MYA; Oliveros et al 2019)
A recent study based on morphology, vocalizations, and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA proposed splitting the Striated Prinia (P. crinigera) into 2 species and the Brown Prinia (P. polychroa) into 3 species (Alström et al 2020)
We suggest that under the General Lineage Concept these major subspecific groups are best treated as 2 separate species, P. gracilis and P. lepida, respectively, as there is strong evidence that they represent independent lineages
Summary
The Old World “warbler” family Cisticolidae is part of the superfamily Sylvioidea sensu Fregin et al (2012), which includes a paraphyletic grouping of several Old World “warbler” families (reviews in Alström et al 2013 and Fjeldså et al 2020) from which Cisticolidae diverged around 23 million years ago (MYA; Oliveros et al 2019). Olsson et al (2013) proposed, based on a phylogenetic analysis including all genera in this family, that Cisticolidae should be separated into the subfamilies Eremomelinae, Cisticolinae, Priniinae, and Neomixinae. The genus Prinia, the composition of which was modified based on the phylogenetic analysis of Olsson et al (2013), comprises 23–28 mostly polytypic species (Dickinson and Christidis 2014, del Hoyo and Collar 2016, Gill et al 2020). A recent study based on morphology, vocalizations, and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA proposed splitting the Striated Prinia (P. crinigera) into 2 species and the Brown Prinia (P. polychroa) into 3 species (Alström et al 2020)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
