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The Royal Society, Biology Letters, 6(4), p. 677-680, 2008

DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2008.0444

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The phylogenetic affinities of Crossley's babbler (Mystacornis crossleyi): adding a new niche to the vanga radiation of Madagascar

Journal article published in 2008 by Ulf S. Johansson ORCID, Rauri C. K. Bowie, Shannon J. Hackett, Thomas S. Schulenberg
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Crossley's babbler ( Mystacornis crossleyi ) is a passerine endemic to Madagascar. Traditionally, it has been classified as a babbler (Timaliidae), although affinities with warblers and vangas have been suggested. We investigated the phylogenetic affinities of Crossley's babbler using sequence data from two nuclear introns (myoglobin intron 2 and β-fibrinogen intron 5) and one mitochondrial gene (ND2). We present for the first time (to our knowledge) a molecular phylogeny that confidently places this enigmatic species within the vangas (Vangidae). The inclusion of Crossley's babbler within the vangas adds another foraging niche—gleaning small invertebrates from the ground—to this already large adaptive radiation of songbirds.