Marina Somenzari, 2011. Taxonomia do complexo Pyrrhura lepida (Aves: Psittacidae). Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade de São Paulo.
Abstract:
The species complex of Pyrrhura lepida, as currently defined, is composed of three subspecies: P. l. lepida, P. l. coerulescens e P. l. anerythra, all closely related to P. perlata. Occurring on the southern Amazon forest, the complex differentiates itself from other members of the genus by its tails coloration, which is dark-red on the dorsal side and black on the underside, with wider rectrices. This works objective was to describe the morphological variance in these taxa, revising their taxonomical validity and defining their geographical distribution. In the course of it, 69 specimens of P. lepida and 34 of P. perlata were analyzed. Analysis of the coloration pattern of the birds plumage was based on several corporeal regions, adding up to 19 distinct morphological characters. Regarding morphometry, the utilized measures were closed wing length, tail length, exposed culmen length, beak width and tarsometatarsus length. Morphological analysis show the existence of only three valid taxa: the first, occurring from the Madeira river to the east margin of the Tapajós river, has a distinguishing, vivid red coloration on its abdomen, an auricular region composed of dark feathers with whitened raquis and apex, green-yellow coloration in its upper cheek regions and brown-red on the backside of its tail, and so should continue to be treated by the name of P. perlata. The second taxon occurs in the region between the Xingu and Araguaia-Tocantins rivers. It is characterized by the green-blue coloration in its lower coverts of it wings and green abdomen with scale-like deep-red coloration, and should be named as P. anerythra. The third taxon, mainly characterized by the generally green coloration of its abdomen and red lower coverts on its wings, covers populations located east from Araguaia-Tocantins, including ones in ilha de Marajó, which were before split in two different taxa, P. lepida lepida and P. l. coerulescens. Both taxa should be considered synonyms from now on. Historical nomenclature revision of the populations revealed, however, the necessity of some changes in accordance with the ICZN: the current name Pyrrhura lepida (Wagler, 1832) should have its authorship corrected to Pyrrhura lepida (Kuhl, 1820). However, the type-specimen of that name is a hybrid, invalidating the name and making Pyrrhura coerulescens Neumann, 1927, as the second oldest available name, the correct one. Even though the main contributors of the southern Amazon river define and isolate the valid taxa, there is a small hybridization area between P. anerythra e P. coerulescens near Portel/PA, located to the east of the mouth of the Tocantins river. Still, the hybridization doesnt seem to compromise the characterization and differentiation of these two taxa. Morphometrical data were unable to distinguish between taxa due to juxtaposition of values and averages. Sexual dimorphism was also not detected. Jointly these three taxa form the hereby redefined perlata-coerulescens species complex.
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