Forest robin
| Forest robin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stiphrornis erythrothorax pyrrholaemus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Muscicapidae |
| Genus: | Stiphrornis Hartlaub, 1855 |
| Species: | S. erythrothorax |
| Binomial name | |
| Stiphrornis erythrothorax Hartlaub, 1855 | |
The forest robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax) is a species of bird from Central and West Africa. It is monotypic in the genus Stiphrornis. It has been placed in the family Turdidae, but is now generally placed in Muscicapidae in the group popularly known as chats. Most taxonomists consider it a single species, but some reviews have recommended recognizing 5 species. It has a total length of around 12 cm (4 3⁄4 in), has dark upperparts, and a throat and chest that, depending on the exact subspecies, is yellow-orange or deep orange.[2]
Taxonomy
The initial split into multiple species within this genus is based on a review from 1999 where it, based on the phylogenetic species concept, was argued that all then recognized taxa should be considered monotypic species.[3] Of these, S. gabonensis and S. xanthogaster were formerly considered subspecies of S. erythrothorax, whereas S. saghensis was described as an entirely new species.[3] The split was not followed in Handbook of the Birds of the World, where it was described as "perhaps premature".[2] Comparably, the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group (and consequently IUCN) recommended not following the split, as differences in plumages are relatively small, genetic sampling considered incomplete, and evidence for intergradation or parapatry is lacking.[1] Another species from this complex, S. pyrrholaemus, was described as a new species in 2008. Based on mtDNA, it is placed within S. erythrothorax sensu lato, and consequently is only a species (rather than a subspecies of S. erythrothorax) if at least some of the taxonomy recommended in 1999 is followed.[4] The genetic divergence between S. pyrrholaemus and other members of the genus is comparable to that between some other closely related species.[4]
Subspecies
- Western forest robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax erythrothorax).
- Olive-backed forest robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax pyrrholaemus).
- Gabon forest robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax gabonensis).
- Sangha forest robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax sanghornis).
- Eastern forest robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax xanthogaster).
References
- 1 2 BirdLife International (2012). "Stiphrornis erythrothorax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 Collar, N. (2005). Forest Robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax). Pp. 730-731 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Christie, D. eds. (2005). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 10. Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-72-5
- 1 2 Beresford, P. & Cracraft, J. (1999). Speciation in African forest robins (Stiphrornis): species limits, phylogenetic relationships, and molecular biogeography. American Museum Novitates 3270: 1–22. PDF available.
- 1 2 Schmidt, B., Foster, J., Angehr, G., Durrant, K., & Fleischer, R. (2008): A new species of African Forest Robin from Gabon (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae: Stiphrornis). Zootaxa 1850: 27–42. PDF available.