Multiple evolutionary units and demographic stability during the last glacial maximum in the Scytalopus speluncae complex (Aves: Rhinocryptidae).

The Atlantic Forest (AF) of South America harbors one of the world's highest bird species richness, but to date there is a deficient understanding of the spatial patterns of genetic diversity and the evolutionary history of this biome. Here we estimated the phylogenetic and populational history of the widespread Mouse-colored Tapaculo (Scytalopus speluncae) complex across the Brazilian AF, using data from two mitochondrial genes and 12 microsatellite loci. Both markers uncovered several cryptic, mostly allopatric and well-supported lineages that may represent distinct species-level taxa. We investigated whether diversification in S. speluncae is compatible with the Carnaval-Moritz model of Pleistocene refugia. We found that northern lineages have high levels of genetic diversity, agreeing with predictions of more stable forest refugia in these areas. In contrast, southern lineages have lower levels of mtDNA diversity with a signature of population expansion that occurred earlier (∼0.2Mya) than the last glacial maximum. This result suggests that the AF may be stable enough to maintain endemic taxa through glacial cycles. Moreover, we propose that the "mid-Pleistocene climate transition" between 1.2 and 0.7million years ago, from a warmer to a colder climate, may have played an important but mostly overlooked role in the evolution of AF montane taxa.

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the eastern Tapaculos (Aves: Rhinocryptidae: Scytalopus, Eleoscytalopus): cryptic diversification in Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Scytalopus and the recently erected Eleoscytalopus are among the Neotropical groups of birds whose taxonomy is most difficult to resolve given their very conservative morphology. We investigated the phylogeny and species limits of Eleoscytalopus and the eastern Scytalopus using two mitochondrial genes and two nuclear introns of multiple individuals from all species of these groups. The eastern Scytalopus are separated in three well defined clades also supported by morphological or vocal characteristics, although the relationships between these clades could not be resolved. We found several allopatric and very divergent lineages in these genera whose characteristics are consistent with species-level divergence, especially in S.speluncae. The great divergence between E. psychopompus and its sister species supports the former as a valid species. Our results corroborate the importance of the Bahia refuge as an avian center of endemism.

Hidden generic diversity in Neotropical birds: molecular and anatomical data support a new genus for the "Scytalopus"indigoticus species-group (Aves: Rhinocryptidae).

The genus Scytalopus is a species-rich and taxonomically complicated component of the Neotropical avian family Rhinocryptidae. Probably because Scytalopus is a superficially uniform assemblage, its monophyly has not been seriously questioned. We investigated phylogenetic relationships of a representative set of species in the genus using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences as well as anatomical data, and provided the first test of its presumed monophyly by including in the analyses its hypothesized closest relatives (the genera Myornis, Eugralla, and Merulaxis) as well as most rhinocryptid genera. We found strong support for the paraphyly of the genus Scytalopus, with the Scytalopus indigoticus species-group forming a clade with Merulaxis. A well-supported clade including the genera Eugralla, Myornis, and the remaining Scytalopus was also recovered. Because these results were recovered independently and with strong support using mitochondrial and nuclear data, and were entirely consistent with anatomical data, we erect a new genus for the S.indigoticus species-group. These findings illustrate the importance of formally testing hypotheses of monophyly even for well-accepted groups of Neotropical birds.

On identification errors in Scytalopus speluncae (Ménétriés) and S. pachecoi Maurício from southern Brazil with new data on distribution and biogeography of these taxa (Aves: Rhinocryptidae).

The Brazilian tapaculo Scytalopus speluncae species-group has been the subject of intense taxonomic work in the past 18 years, with six new species being named in that time lapse and other taxonomic problems having been highlighted (Bornschein et al. 1998, 2007; Maurício 2005; Raposo et al. 2006, 2012; Mata et al. 2009; Whitney et al. 2010; Maurício et al. 2010, 2014; Pulido-Santacruz et al. 2016). One of the most persistent of these problems involves the oldest name in this group, S. speluncae (Ménétriès), and the taxa it may represent. Historically, this name has been applied to the dark gray populations (whose adult males have plain gray flanks) occurring along coastal mountains between Espírito Santo and São Paulo states in Brazil (Raposo et al. 2006; Maurício et al. 2010). Subsequently, dark gray populations from the Brazilian states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, as well as paler gray birds with black-barred brown flanks from northeastern Argentina (Misiones Province) and adjacent southern Brazilian states were also subsumed under S. speluncae (Bornschein et al. 1998; Maurício 2005; Maurício et al. 2010). However, the paler gray, barred populations from Argentina and some parts of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul have proved to be a distinct and partially sympatric species named S. pachecoi Maurício, which was shown to be not closely related to S. speluncae, but rather pertains to the very divergent clade of S. novacapitalis Sick and related forms (Maurício 2005; Mata et al. 2009). On the other hand, the dark-gray populations coming from Espírito Santo south to Rio Grande do Sul continued to be identified as S. speluncae.

Novos registros de moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae e Nycteribiidae) de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) em áreas de transição cerrado-floresta estacional no Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil / New records of bat flies (Diptera, Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) on bats in cerrado of State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

As primeiras informações sobre moscas ectoparasitas de morcegos e seus hospedeiros no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul são apresentadas. Os indivíduos de morcegos e de dípteros ectoparasitos foram coletados em área transicionais de cerrado e floresta estacional semidecídua, e também em uma floresta decídua. Foram encontradas sete espécies de Streblidae e uma de Basilia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903 (Nycteribiidae). Todos os registros são inéditos para o estado do Mato Grosso do Sul e Basilia bequaerti Guimarães & DïAndretta, 1956 é registrada pela primeira vez no Brasil.

The first information on species of bat flies and their hosts in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul is given. The specimens of bats and bat flies were collected in a transitional area of cerrado and semideciduous forest and in a deciduous forest. Seven species of streblid and one of nicteribiid flies were collected on five species of bats. All bat flies are recorded for the first time in Mato Grosso do Sul and Basilia bequaerti Guimarães & DïAndretta, 1956 is a new record for Brazil.