TAXONOMY OF THE HOUBARA BUSTARD CHLAMYDOTIS-UNDULATA SUBSPECIES CONSIDERED ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL DISPLAY AND GENETIC-DIVERGENCE

The Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata is a polytypic species with t hree subspecies classified according size, colour and distribution: C. u. undulata, C, u. feurtaventurae and C. u, macqueenii. A comparative study of the male display behaviour of these three subspecies has sho wn similarities between C, u, undulata and C, u. fuertaventurae, where as appreciable differences exist in the visual and auditory aspects of the display between C, u. undulata and C. u, macqueenii. These observ ations make the current taxonomy of Houbara Bustard questionable, part icularly in view of the major importance of the sexual display in bird speciation processes. Furthermore, DNA analysis of the cytochrome b g ene indicates the existence of a significant differentiation between t he C, u, undulata and C, u, macqueenii populations. These findings ind icate the need for a revision of the taxonomy of genus Chlamydotis whi ch should separate the macqueenii and undulata populations at species rank, Until further investigations are completed, C. u. fuertaventurae should be kept as a subspecies of undulata since the courtship displa y is alike in both populations.