RESOLUTION OF THE PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE CONGO PEAFOWL, AFROPAVO-CONGENSIS - A BIOGEOGRAPHIC AND EVOLUTIONARY ENIGMA

Afropavo congensis, the Congo peafowl, has long fascinated ornithologi sts because of its uncertain phylogenetic position and unusual geograp hic distribution. While some researchers have placed Afropavo as a sis ter taxon to the true peafowl, Pave species, others have suggested rel ationships with the guineafowl or an Old World partridge, Francolinus. These divergent opinions are due, at least in part, to (i) the unique morphological characteristics, lack of elaborate ornamentation, and m onogamous mating system in Afropavo which differentiates it from Pavo; and (ii) the restricted distribution of Afropavo in Zaire, which is f ar removed from the Asian distribution of all other pheasant species. We obtained complete cytochrome b and partial D-loop sequences of Afro pavo and compared them to Pave, guineafowl, Francolinus and other gail iform taxa. Our results strongly support a close relationship between Afropavo and Pave, and we were able to reject alternative phylogenetic hypotheses. Molecular clock estimates or? the divergence time place t he separation of Afropavo and Pave in the late Miocene. We also discus s other relatives of Afropavo and Pave and use this information to pro pose hypotheses regarding the evolution of ornamentation and sexual di morphism within this group of pheasants.