INTERGENERIC PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS OF SWALLOWS ESTIMATED BY DNA-DNA HYBRIDIZATION

The phylogeny of the subfamily Hirundininae was estimated by hybridizi ng single-copy nuclear DNAs of 21 swallow species, representing 19 for mer and current genera, and a Tufted Titmouse (Parus bicolor) as outgr oup. The phylogeny, which was unusually well resolved, consisted of th ree fundamental clades: Hirundo and allies, core martins, and African sawwings. The clade of Hirundo and allies comprised Hirundo rustica, P tyonoprogne fuligula, Delichon urbica, Cecropis semirufa, Petrochelido n pyrrhonota, and P. spilodera. The sister-group of Hirundo and allies was the core martin clade, which consisted largely of endemic New Wor ld taxa (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca, Neochelidon tibialis, Atticora fasci ata, Phaeoprogne tapera, Progne chalybea, Haplochelidon andecola, Stel gidopteryx ruficollis, and Tachycineta bicolor) and some basally branc hing Old World groups (Riparia riparia, R. cincta, Phedina borbonica, Pseudhirundo griseopyga, and Cheramoeca leucosternus). The African saw wings (represented by Psalidoprocne holomelas) formed the sister group of the core martins and Hirundo and allies. Among some interesting di scoveries, we found a close relationship between the monotypic African and Australian genera Pseudhirundo and Cheramoeca. We also found that Delichon, which has persisted in the nomenclature as a genus separate from Hirundo, is monophyletic with taxa that are commonly considered to be members of Hirundo. On the other hand, Haplochelidon andecola, w hich is often considered to be a Hirundo or Petrochelidon, is not clos ely related to those genera, but instead lies among the New World memb ers of the core martin clade.