A PHYLOGENY OF THE WOODCREEPERS (DENDROCOLAPTINAE)

A phylogeny of 42 species representing the 13 genera of woodcreepers ( Furnariidae: Dendrocolaptinae) was constructed by means of a numerical -cladistic analysis of morphological characters from the hindlimb musc les, bill, nostrils, feet, and tail. A tree stable at the generic leve l was produced, but the characters used did not effectively delineate relationships between species in the large genera Lepidocolaptes and X iphorhynchus. Monophyly of the Dendrocolaptinae was supported. Drymorn is bridgesii was hypothesized to be the sister species of the other wo odcreepers, followed by Nasica longirostris. Beyond these forms, the g enera Dendrocincla, Deconychura, Sittasomus, and Glyphorhynchus lie ba sal to the remaining genera. This is consistent with their recognition as ''intermediate forms,'' although the basal position of Drymornis a nd Nasica does not agree with that hypothesis. Among polytypic genera, the monophyly of Dendrocincla, Campylorhamphus, Xiphocolaptes, and De ndrocolaptes was supported, whereas Deconychura appears to be paraphyl etic. Monophyly of Hylexetastes, Xiphorhynchus, and Lepidocolaptes rem ains uncertain.