Hindlimb Myology and Evolution of the Old World Suboscine Passerine Birds (Acanthisittidae, Pittidae, Philepittidae, Eurylaimidae)

Molecular systematics of New World suboscine birds

“…Within the remainder of the passerines, the suboscines and oscines formed monophyletic groups. Two well-supported clades were also present within the suboscines; however, these differed from the accepted biogeographic division between Old World and New World suboscines (Irestedt et al, 2001;Raikow, 1987;Raikow and Bledsoe, 2000;Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990). The Broad-billed Sapayoa S. aenigma, resident of a narrow zone of rainforest from Panama to Ecuador, received strong support (100% bootstrap) as an Old World suboscine.…”

“…Sequences were obtained using DNA extracted from tissue by means of a 5% Chelex solution (Walsh et al, 1991). Primers used for initial PCR amplification of intron 7 were FIBI7U and FIBI7L, both Higher-level group names, except for Piriformes, were taken from Raikow (1987): the Tyranni and Furnarii are the two groups of New World suboscines, the Pitti are the Old World suboscines, and the Passeres are the oscine passerines. Family groupings prior to Sibley and Monroe (1990) are a composite of major sources.…”

“…Although suboscines were defined in part based on lack of a character•they are passerine birds that lack the oscine, or songbird, syrinx•and have been referred to as "this by no means natural group" (Stresemann, 1934, translated in Sibley, 1970, the modern view is that suboscines are monophyletic relative to other passerines and that they consist of two monophyletic groups divisible along geographical lines: the New World suboscines and the Old World suboscines (Irestedt et al, 2001;Raikow, 1987;Raikow and Bledsoe, 2000;Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990).…”

“…New World suboscines are likewise generally considered to consist of two monophyletic groups, one ("Tyranni" in Ames, 1971 andRaikow, 1987, "Tyrannida" in Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990) consisting of the tyrant-flycatchers and relatives, the other ("Furnarii" in Ames, 1971and Raikow, 1987, "Furnariida" and "Thamnophilida" in Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990 consisting of the ovenbirds, antbirds, and related taxa. The Tyranni contain many taxa of uncertain familial affinities, variously placed in the traditional families Tyrannidae (tyrant-flycatchers), Pipridae (manakins), or Cotingidae (cotingas), including members of the Schiffornis group (Prum and Lanyon, 1989) and the Sharpbill Oxyruncus cristatus.…”

“…The Tyranni contain many taxa of uncertain familial affinities, variously placed in the traditional families Tyrannidae (tyrant-flycatchers), Pipridae (manakins), or Cotingidae (cotingas), including members of the Schiffornis group (Prum and Lanyon, 1989) and the Sharpbill Oxyruncus cristatus. Species composition of families in the Furnarii (sensu Ames, 1971 andRaikow, 1987), in contrast, has with few exceptions been well defined, but the monophyly and relationships of specific families have been a matter of debate.…”