AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Francolin Phylogenetics: Molecular, Morphobehavioral, and Combined Evidence

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1998
Authors:Bloomer, P, Crowe, TM
Journal:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Volume:9
Date Published:1998
ISBN Number:1055-7903
Keywords:Coturnix, Coturnix coturnix, Coturnix japonica, Gallus, Gallus gallus, Margaroperdix, Margaroperdix madagarensis, Perdix, Perdix perdix, Phasianidae
Abstract:The phylogenetics of francolins (Francolinusspecies) were reassessed by obtaining 660 bp of sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochromebgene from 20 species, the Common QuailCoturnix coturnix africana,and the Madagascar PartridgeMargaroperdix madagarensis.Published sequences of the Japanese QuailC. c. japonica, Alectorispartridges, and the JunglefowlGallus galluswere also included. Separate analysis of the 200 phylogenetically informative cytochromebcharacters and the 25 informative morphobehavioral characters, as well as a combined analysis of molecular and morphobehavioral data, do not support francolin monophyly but provide strong evidence for two previously suggested clades—the quail-francolins (or partridges) and the partridge-francolins (pheasants/francolins). The quail-francolin clade comprises three groups of African francolins and three Asian species that were previously considered more closely related to the partridge-francolins. The partridge-francolin clade, which includes four groups of African francolins, forms a sister group to theCoturnixquails, the Madagascar Partridge, and theAlectorispartridges. The molecular data suggest that the two francolin clades diverged approximately 3–6 MYA. Climatic fluctuations of the past 2.5 MYA may have led to the diversification of the ecologically different francolin species groups and speciation within them.
URL:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790397904693
Taxonomic name: 
Coturnix (Birds), Coturnix coturnix (Birds), Coturnix japonica (Birds), Gallus (Birds), Gallus gallus (Birds), Perdix (Birds), Phasianidae (Birds)
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith