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A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
Published on: July 11, 2025
Deep diversification in Lampropsar tanagrinus (Aves:Icteridae) illustrates hidden diversity and its implication to
Eduardo D Schultz1, Joel Cracraft1, Mateus Ferreira2
1Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, New York 10034 NY, USA.
Abstract:
Neotropical biodiversity is highly underestimated. Even in allegedly well-known taxonomic groups like birds, recent revisions reveal inaccurate taxonomic arrangements that conceal complex evolutionary histories. In this study, we present a complementary molecular and morphometric revision of the taxonomy of the Velvet-fronted Grackle, Lampropsar tanagrinus, a specialist to the floodplains of northern South America. Our results show that across its described distribution, individuals present enough molecular and morphologic differences to be classified as three separate species that partially match described subspecies, including L. tanagrinus, L. violaceus and L. guianensis that occupy the floodplains of, respectively, the Orinoco, the Amazon and the Beni river basins. We show that previous adoption of subspecies status was influenced by an undetected west-east cline in the size of birds in the Amazon basin which nevertheless corresponds to a single taxon. Based on these results, we interpret the diversification history of Lampropsar taxa in the context of the evolution of the Northern South American landscape. Finally, we use our findings to discuss how taxonomic practices in Neotropical ornithology repeatedly lead to misleading interpretation of the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the taxa and the landscape in the region.
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