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10 new bird taxa described from Indonesia (1 Viewer)

Peter Kovalik

Peter Kovalik

Well-known member
Slovakia
Rheindt, Frank E., Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Hidayat Ashari, Suparno, Chyi Yin Gwee, Geraldine W. X. Lee, Meng Yue Wu, and Nathaniel S. R. Ng. 2020. A lost world in Wallacea: description of a montane archipelagic avifauna. Science 367: 167-170.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aax2146

Abstract: Birds are the best-known animal class, with only about five or six new species descriptions per year since 1999. Integrating genomic and phenotypic research with arduous fieldwork in remote regions, we describe five new songbird species and five new subspecies from a small area near Sulawesi, Indonesia, all collected in a single 6-week expedition. Two factors contributed to the description of this large number of species from such a small geographic area: (i) Knowledge of Quaternary Period land connections helped pinpoint isolated islands likely to harbor substantial endemism and (ii) studying accounts of historic collectors such as Alfred Wallace facilitated the identification of undercollected islands. Our findings suggest that humans’ understanding of biogeographically complex regions such as Wallacea remains incomplete.

the descriptions are in the supplementary material -
science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6474/167/suppl/DC1

Taliabu Myzomela Myzomela wahe Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Wu 2020
treated as Taliabu Myzomela Myzomela sp. nov. in Eaton et al. 2016, pages 258-259 (with illustration)

Peleng Fantail Rhipidura habibiei Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Ng 2020
treated as Peleng Fantail Rhipidura sp. nov. in Eaton et al. 2016, pages 292-293 (with illustration)

Taliabu Grasshopper-Warbler [hyphen in the original, for those who care] Locustella portenta Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, Gwee, and Lee 2020
treated as Taliabu Grasshopper Warbler [no hyphen] Locustella sp. nov. in Eaton et al. 2016, pages 380-381 (with illustration)

Taliabu Leaf-Warbler [ditto - hyphen in the original] Phylloscopus emilsalimi Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Ng 2020
treated as Taliabu Leaf Warbler [no hyphen] Seicercus sp. nov. in Eaton et al. 2016, pages 370-371 (with illustration)

Peleng Leaf-Warbler [same story] Phylloscopus suaramerdu Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Ng 2020
treated as Peleng Leaf Warbler [no hyphen] Seicercus sp. nov. in Eaton et al. 2016, pages 370-371 (with illustration)

Mountain Leaftoiler
Phyllergates cucullatus sulanus Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Ng 2020; Taliabu
Phyllergates cucullatus relictus Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Ng 2020; Peleng
both are discussed (but not illustrated) in Eaton et al. 2016, page 374

Island Thrush
Turdus poliocephalus sukahujan Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, and Suparno 2020; Taliabu
discussed (but not illustrated) in Eaton et al. 2016, page 400

Sulawesi Jungle-flycatcher
Cyornis omissus omississimus Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, Suparno, and Gwee 2020; Togian
treated as Togian Jungle-flycatcher Cyornis sp. nov. in Eaton et al. 2016, pages 414-415 (with illustration); but here described as a subspecies of Sulawesi Jungle-flycatcher Cyornis omissus

Snowy-browed Flycatcher
Ficedula hyperythra betinabiru Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, and Suparno 2020; Taliabu
discussed (but not illustrated) in Eaton et al. 2016, page 430



With thanks to Tom Schulenberg for pointing out this article.
 
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Jonathan D. Kennedy & Jon Fjeldså. Completing Wallace's journey. Science 10 Jan 2020: Vol. 367, Issue 6474, pp. 140-141
DOI: 10.1126/science.aba3798

Abstract:

British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace developed the theory of evolution as a consequence of the taxonomic discoveries made during his expeditions across the Indonesian archipelago in the 19th century. From his collections, thousands of new species have been described, including around 2% of all living bird species. Birds are one of the most comprehensively documented organismal groups, but multiple new species continue to be described yearly, and at an increasing rate. Nearly all recent avian species discoveries come from disjunct geographic locations. However, on page 167 of this issue, Rheindt et al. (1) describe five new species and five subspecies from three islands off the eastern coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This is the largest number of new species descriptions from a restricted geographic locality in over a century and highlights the importance of documenting biodiversity today, given the environmental threats that could condemn many as yet unidentified taxa to extinction.
 
All this done I assume by skin comparisons and genetic study and I see were 'collecting' again.
 
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"...studying accounts of historic collectors such as Alfred Wallace ...."

And apparently Eaton, as every taxa mentioned was at least mentioned (& in most cases illustrated) by them in 2016. I do hope the text of the paper does a better job of referencing that work than the abstract does.
 
Snapdragyn said:
"...studying accounts of historic collectors such as Alfred Wallace ...."

And apparently Eaton, as every taxa mentioned was at least mentioned (& in most cases illustrated) by them in 2016. I do hope the text of the paper does a better job of referencing that work than the abstract does.
Click to expand...

pretty sure you're getting it backwards, these taxa were included in the field guide as a result of the paper authors' fieldwork in 2009-2013
not surprising as lead author on the paper was one of the field guide authors

James
 
It's missing from the Diary page of the IOC website, but on the Species Updates tab I notice that Peleng Fantail has been accepted.
 
IOC Updates Diary July 5

Split Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler into three species. Sulawesi Bush Warbler Locustella castanea; Buru Bush Warbler Locustella disturbans; Seram Bush Warbler Locustella musculus (Eaton et al. 2016; Rheindt et al. 2020).

Accept newly described Taliabu Bush Warbler Locustella portenta Rheindt et al. (2020).

Accept newly described Taliabu Myzomela Myzomela wahe Rheindt et al. (2020).
 
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