Further Evidence for Paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes)

Abstract

The historical relationships of ground antbirds and their relatives have long been unresolved. Here, I present a phylogenetic analysis of ground antbird (Formicariidae) relationships based on DNA sequence data from the cytochrome-b and ND2 genes. Results support novel hypotheses of historical relationships, including two revisions of suboscine taxonomy: (1) paraphyly of the Formicariidae with the tentative inclusion of at least some rhinocryptids (Liosceles, Rhinocrypta, and Scytalopus) in the ground antbird lineage, and (2) placement of Pittasoma with Conopophaga in the Conopophagidae.