| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 2
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| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Fed Mato Grosso UFMS, Lab Ecol Filogenia & Conservacao Aves Neotropicai, DCN, BR-79620080 Tres Lagoas, MS - Brazil
[2] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Lab Vertebrados, DCB, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
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| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Brazilian Journal of Biology; v. 70, n. 1, p. 195-204, FEB 2010. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 3 |
| Abstract | |
The anatomy of Neomorphinae is poorly understood and the systematics of this sub-family is also the most controversial of the cuckoo taxa, mainly with regard to the systematic position of Tapera and Dromococcyx. In this study, morphological similarities of the Neomorphinae are discussed after a comprehensive description of the cranial osteology was conducted in seven species, embracing all the Neomorphinae genera. This description is followed by comparisons with other cuckoos in order to contribute to the anatomy and systematics of this sub-family. In this way, we provide illustrations that enable the osteological descriptions and the proposed primary homologies to be visualised and compared. Even though Neomorphinae species share many cranial osteological characteristics, there are some anatomical divergences that allowed us to divide them into two distinct groups: (Dromococcyx/Tapera) and (Morococcyx(Neomorphus/Geococcyx )). After comparisons among all cuckoos this study suggests that Neomorphinae are more similar to Crotophaginae and Couinae than to other sub-families of cuckoos. Our results contrast with a recent phylogenetic study based on morphological features, mainly because alternative interpretations to the primary osteological homologies in this study grouped Tapera and Dromococcyx with Cuculinae. Although morphological studies can be used in phylogenetic analysis, we demonstrated here that decisions in the interpretation of the homologies can provide ambiguous results. (AU) | |