title: A taxonomic review of Aramidescajaneus (Aves, Gruiformes, Rallidae) with notes on morphological variation in other species of the genus.
abstract: The taxonomy of the polytypic and wide-ranging Gray-necked Wood-rail, Aramidescajaneus is reviewed, based on external morphology and voice. Throughout its distribution, there is extensive plumage variation, much of it taxonomically uninformative. However, through three informative plumage characters, as well as morphometric and vocal variation, three phylogenetic species were identified within what is today known as Aramidescajaneus, all of which already had available names: Aramidesalbiventris Lawrence, 1868, from southern Mexico to northeastern Costa Rica, Aramidescajaneus (Statius Müller, 1776) (sensu stricto), from southwestern Costa Rica to Argentina, and Aramidesavicenniae Stotz, 1992, from a small section of the coast of southeastern Brazil. Aramidesalbiventris presents extensive plumage variation, but with no geographic structure. The song of Aramidescajaneus and Aramidesavicenniae is strikingly and completely different from the song of Aramidesalbiventris. A previously unnoticed parapatric pattern of distribution of Aramidescajaneus and its congener Aramidessaracura in southeastern Brazil is described, and we clarify that the name Aramidesplumbeicollis, included in the synonymy of Aramidesalbiventris, was first made available in 1892, rather than in 1888 as is widely referred. In addition, plumage variation in Aramidesypecaha, Aramideswolfi, and Aramidesmangle is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Seção de Aves. Caixa Postal 42494, São Paulo, SP, 04218-970, Brazil ; Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Pós-Graduação. Caixa Postal 11461, São Paulo, SP, 05422-970, Brazil ; Current address: Department of Biological Sciences and Museum of Natural Sciences. 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Rafael Sobral
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Marcondes
authors.affiliation: Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Seção de Aves. Caixa Postal 42494, São Paulo, SP, 04218-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luís Fábio
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Silveira
keywords: Aramidesmangle; Aramideswolfi; Aramidesypecaha; Central America; Wood-rails; nomenclature; voice