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Osteological evidence for paraphyly of the avian order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies)

Osteologische Hinweise auf Paraphylie der Vogelordnung Caprimulgiformes (Schwalmv:ogel)

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Summary

The first phylogenetic analysis of osteological characters in the Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies) provides strong evidence that this order is paraphyletic. Well supported is monophyly of a clade comprising Caprimulgidae, Nyctibiidae, Aegothelidae and the traditional Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds). Within this clade Nyctibiidae (potoos) and Caprimulgidae (nightjars) on the one hand, and Aegothelidae (owlet-nightjars) and the traditional Apodiformes on the other are sister taxa. Whereas monophyly of Nyctibiidae and Caprimulgidae is in accordance with most previous studies, monophyly of the so far poorly studied Aegothelidae and the traditional Apodiformes has not been suggested by previous authors. The affinities of the Steatornithidae (oilbirds) and Podargidae (frog-mouths) cannot be conclusively resolved at present.

Zusammenfassung

Die erste phylogenetische Analyse der Caprimulgiformes (Schwalmvögel) aufgrund osteologischer Merkmale liefert deutliche Hinweise auf eine Paraphylie dieser Ordnung. Gut gestützt ist die Monophylie eines Taxons, das Caprimulgidae, Nyctibiidae, Aegothelidae und die traditionelle Ordnung Apodiformes (Segler und Kolibris) beinhaltet. Innerhalb dieser Gruppe sind Nyctibiidae (Tagschläfer) und Caprimulgidae (Ziegenmelker) auf der einen Seite, sowie Aegothelidae (Höhlenschwalme) und die traditionellen Apodiformes auf der anderen Seite monophyletisch. Während Monophylie von Nyctibiidae und Caprimulgidae im Einklang mit den meisten bisherigen Untersuchungen steht, wurde eine Monophylie der bisher kaum untersuchten Aegothelidae und der traditionellen Apodiformes noch nicht vorgeschlagen. Die großsystematische Stellung der Steatornithidae (Fettschwalme) und Podargidae (Eulenschwalme) kann zur Zeit nicht überzeugend begründet werden.

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  1. Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Sektion für Ornithologie, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Gerald Mayr

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Mayr, G. Osteological evidence for paraphyly of the avian order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies). J Ornithol 143, 82–97 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02465461

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