The relationships of the Australo-Papuan Scrub-Robins Drymodes as indicated by DNA-DNA hydridization

Abstract

The taxonomic relationships of Drymodes were examined by comparing the single-copy DNA sequences of radio-iodine-labelled D. brunneopygia DNA with the DNAs of thirty-seven other genera of oscine passerines (Passeres). Of the taxa examined, the scrub-robins were found to be most closely related to Eopsaltria and Poecilodryas, and to be distant from the true thrushes (e.g. Turdus, Erithacus). Drymodes is a member of a varied assemblage of mostly endemic Australasian taxa that includes the Australian robins, flycatchers, monarchs, fantails, whistlers, shrike-thrushes, pitohuis, shrike-tits, the Crested Bellbird, and the quail-thrushes. The wedgebas, woodswallows, and other groups also may be part of this cluster. The honeyeaters, malurine wrens, and Australian magpies, apparently belong to other groups not yet defined in terms of DNA comparisons. The accentors (Prunella), sylviine warblers (Sylvia), white-eyes (Zosterops), muscicapine flycatchers, wagtails (Motacilla), mimic thrushes (Dumetella), starlings, typical wrens (Troglodytes), emberizine sparrows (Zonotrichia) and dippers (Cinclus) are as distant from Drymodes as are any taxa of oscines the DNAs of which have been compared.