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Subspeciation in the Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi, Maluridae)

Les Christidis ^A ^D ^E, Philippa Horton ^B and Janette A. Norman ^C ^D

^A Division of Research and Collections, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
^B Ornithology Section, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
^C Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.
^D Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
^E Corresponding author. Email: les.christidis@austmus.gov.au

Abstract

The Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) is restricted to the stony spinifex (Triodia) hills of the Gawler Ranges and Flinders Ranges of South Australia. Comparisons of DNA sequences of the mitochondrial ND3 gene reveal an average of 2.1% (1.7–2.3%) sequence divergence between the two isolated populations. Genetic differentiation within populations was less, ranging from 0 to 0.6% between individuals. This pattern of genetic differentiation is comparable to that observed between other recognised subspecies of Amytornis for the same DNA locus. Detailed comparisons of morphology and plumage patterns reveal consistent and diagnosable differences between the two populations confirming earlier more limited morphological assessments. Based on the combination of molecular and morphological differences, the Gawler Ranges population is here named as a separate subspecies, A. m. pedleri subsp. nov.

Emu 108(4) 275–282 doi:10.1071/MU08011
Submitted: 27 March 2008 Accepted: 13 August 2008 Published: 23 October 2008