FRANCOLIN PHYLOGENETICS - MOLECULAR, MORPHOBEHAVIORAL, AND COMBINED EVIDENCE

The phylogenetics of francolins (Francolinus species) were reassessed by obtaining 660 bp of sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytoc hrome b gene from 20 species, the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix afric ana, and the Madagascar Partridge Margaroperdix madagarensis. Publishe d sequences of the Japanese Quail C. c. japonica, Alectoris partridges , and the Junglefowl Gallus gallus were also included. Separate analys is of the 200 phylogenetically informative cytochrome b characters and the 25 informative morphobehavioral characters, as well as a combined analysis of molecular and morphobehavioral data, do not support franc olin monophyly but provide strong evidence for two previously suggeste d clades-the quail-francolins (or partridges) and the partridge-franco lins (pheasants/ francolins). The quail-francolin clade comprises thre e groups of African francolins and three Asian species that were previ ously considered more closely related to the partridge-francolins. The partridge-francolin clade, which includes four groups of African fran colins, forms a sister group to the Coturnix quails, the Madagascar Pa rtridge, and the Alectoris partridges. The molecular data suggest that the two francolin clades diverged approximately 3-6 MYA. Climatic flu ctuations of the past 2.5 MYA may have led to the diversification of t he ecologically different francolin species groups and speciation with in them. (C) 1998 Academic Press.