Summary
There is disagreement as to the number of genera comprising the mannikins (Lonchurinae). Some authors recognize two to five of the following genera:Lonchura, Euodice, Padda, Spermestes andOdontospiza. Other authors have merged the last four taxa into the enlarged genusLonchura. We bring together data from downy plumes (neossoptiles), nestling palate markings, begging vocalizations, agonistic behaviour, courtship postures and starch gel electrophoresis of allozymes to solve these taxonomic problems. PAUP analysis of the combined data set indicates thatSpermestes andOdontospiza belong to a monophyletic clade separate fromEuodice, Padda andLonchura. We propose mergingOdontospiza withSpermestes, which suggests an African radiation of the group, and placing the generaPadda andEuodice in withLonchura, which represents a mostly Australasian radiation. The genusAmadina has been treated by some as a mannikin (Lonchurinae) and by others as a waxbill (Estrildinae). Our data indicate thatAmadina should be assigned to the estrildines rather than the lonchurines.Amadina's relatively large, mannikin-like conical bill is a result of convergence, probably reflecting selection pressure on bill shape associated with diet specializations.
Zusammenfassung
Die eigentliche Zahl an Gattungen innerhalb der Nonnen (Lonchurinae) ist umstritten. Einige Autoren erkennen zwei bis fünf von den folgenden Gruppen an:Lonchura, Euodice, Padda, Spermestes, undOdontospiza. Letztere vier Gruppen sind von anderen Autoren in eine vergrößerteLonchura-Gattung vereinigt worden. Um diese taxonomischen Probleme zu lösen, präsentieren wir Daten an neossoptilen Daunenfedern, Rachenzeichnungen, Bettellautäußerungen, agonistischen Verhaltensweisen, Balzverhalten und Stärkegel-Elektrophorese von Proteinen. Eine PAUP (phylogenetische) Analyse aller Daten ergibt folgendes:Spermestes undOdontospiza gehören einer monophyletischen Clade an. Gleiches gilt für die GattungenEuodice, Padda undLonchura. Demzufolge schlagen wir vor, daßOdontospiza der GattungSpermestes, undPadda undEuodice der GattungLonchura, zugeordnet werden sollen. Damit stellt sichSpermestes als eine afrikanische, undLonchura als eine hauptsächlich australasiatische Radiation vor. Die GattungAmadina wird von einigen Autoren den Nonnen (Lonchurinae), von anderen den Eigentlichen Prachtfinken (Estrildinae) zugeordnet. Unsere Daten zeigen, daßAmadina den Estrildiden und nicht den Lonchurinen angehört. Der große kegelförmige, nonnenähnliche Schnabel vonAmadina ist aufgrund nahrungsbedingtem Selektionsdruck wohl durch Konvergenz zustande gekommen.
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Baptista, L.F., Lawson, R., Visser, E. et al. Relationships of some mannikins and waxbills in the estrildidae. J Ornithol 140, 179–192 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653597
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653597