Evolution of arid zone birds in Australia: leapfrog distribution patterns and mesic-arid connections in quail-thrush (Cinclosoma, Cinclosomatidae).

摘要: The quail-thrush, Cinclosoma, include between five and seven species distributed broadly across arid semi-arid inland Australia, mesic forests of south-eastern Australia New Guinea. It has been suggested that the zone quail-thrush arose from forest ancestors as changed a warm wet climate to cooler drier since late-Miocene. We generated multilocus (mitochondrial ND2 eight nuclear loci) gene trees with complete taxon sampling Cinclosoma investigate evolutionary relationships status some taxa. Topologies reconstructed in congruent, highly-resolved supported recognition species. Ancestral state reconstruction divergence time estimates suggest arid-adapted taxa radiated parallel drying changing habitat. A 'leapfrog' distribution phenotypes was likely result ancestral retention inconspicuous (or camouflaged) plumage patterns. specimen-based report 1968 hybridization non-sister castanotum marginatum verified using molecular analysis on specimens collected at same locality 40 years later. discuss implications evolution this group.