Phylogeny of cooperatively breeding cuckoos (Cuculidae, Crotophaginae) based on mitochondrial gene sequences.
The Crotophaginae is a subfamily of New World cuckoos comprising the monotypic genus Guira and three ani species ( Crotophaga). All exhibit a rare form of cooperative breeding known as plural female joint-nesting, whereby two or more females lay eggs in a single nest. I reconstructed the phylogeny of Crotophaginae using the mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase I, II, and III, ATPase 6 and 8, and cytochrome b. The subfamily was monophyletic, implying a single origin of cooperative breeding in New World cuckoos. Crotophaga was also monophyletic with Guira as its sister taxon. Within Crotophaga, the smooth-billed ( C. ani) and groove-billed ( C. sulcirostris) anis formed the internal clade with the greater ani ( C. major) basal to this pair. This phylogeny is consistent with differences in reproductive patterns and social organization exhibited by crotophagine cuckoos, and will serve as a framework for future study of the evolution of cooperative breeding in this subfamily.
Department of Biology, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, P7B 5E1, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. janice.hughes@lakeheadu.ca
Janice M
JM
Hughes
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003573:Cytochrome b Group / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010058:Oviposition; D010802:Phylogeny; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
D003573:Cytochrome b Group; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases