Artículo de revista
The subantarctic rayadito (aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the americas
Fecha
2022Registro en:
Scientifc Reports (2022) 12:13957
10.1038/s41598-022-17985-4
Autor
Rozzi, Ricardo
Quilodrán, Claudio S.
Botero Delgadillo, Esteban
Napolitano, Constanza
Torres Mura, Juan C.
Barroso, Omar
Crego, Ramiro D.
Bravo, Camila
Ippi, Silvina
Quirici, Verónica
Mackenzie, Roy
Suazo, Cristián G.
Rivero de Aguilar, Juan
Goffinet, Bernard
Kempenaers, Bart
Poulin, Elie Albert
Vásquez Salfate, Rodrigo Alfonso
Institución
Resumen
We describe a new taxon of terrestrial bird of the genus Aphrastura (rayaditos) inhabiting the Diego Ramirez Archipelago, the southernmost point of the American continent. This archipelago is geographically isolated and lacks terrestrial mammalian predators as well as woody plants, providing a contrasted habitat to the forests inhabited by the other two Aphrastura spp. Individuals of Diego Ramirez differ morphologically from Aphrastura spinicauda, the taxonomic group they were originally attributed to, by their larger beaks, longer tarsi, shorter tails, and larger body mass. These birds move at shorter distances from ground level, and instead of nesting in cavities in trees, they breed in cavities in the ground, reflecting different life-histories. Both taxa are genetically differentiated based on mitochondrial and autosomal markers, with no evidence of current gene flow. Although further research is required to define how far divergence has proceeded along the speciation continuum, we propose A. subantarctica as a new taxonomic unit, given its unique morphological, genetic, and behavioral attributes in a non-forested habitat. The discovery of this endemic passerine highlights the need to monitor and conserve this still-pristine archipelago devoid of exotic species, which is now protected by the recently created Diego Ramirez Islands-Drake Passage Marine Park.