Integrative taxonomy documents two additional crypticErithacusspecies on the Canary Islands (Aves)

Zoologica Scripta, vol. 51, pp. 629–642

Abstract

Abstract The European RobinErithacus rubeculais currently treated as a single species with eight subspecies. A previous molecular study and new molecular, morphometric and bioacoustic data reported here strongly support the recognition of three species in this complex:E. rubecula(Europe, North Africa and Macaronesia except the central Canary Islands),E. superbus(Tenerife) and a recently described subspecies on Gran Canaria which we raise to species rank asE. marionae. The taxa on Tenerife and Gran Canaria have previously been lumped as a single taxon but differ from each other and fromE. rubeculain territorial songs,ticcalls,seepcalls and wing length. All three species are characterised by moderate to high levels of interspecific mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence (mean 4.2–4.8%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates thatE. marionaeis sister toE. superbus + E. rubecula. Recognition of Gran Canaria and Tenerife Robins as separate species adds two single‐island endemics to the Canary Islands avifauna.

Authors 6

1. George Sangster corresponding Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Swedish Museum of Natural History

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics Swedish Museum of Natural History Stockholm Sweden

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden The Netherlands

2. Jolanda A. Luksenburg Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden University · George Mason University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Environmental Science and Policy George Mason University Fairfax Virginia USA

   Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

3. Martin Päckert

   Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden

   Affiliation as printed

   Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden Dresden Germany

4. Cees S. Roselaar Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden The Netherlands

5. Martin Irestedt

   Swedish Museum of Natural History

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics Swedish Museum of Natural History Stockholm Sweden

6. Per G. P. Ericson

   Swedish Museum of Natural History

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics Swedish Museum of Natural History Stockholm Sweden