The Basilinna genus (Aves: Trochilidae): an evaluation based on molecular evidence and implications for the genus Hylocharis

Abstract

Hummingbirds are one of the most diverse families of birds and the phylogenetic relationships within thegroup have recently begun to be studied with molecular data. Most of these studies have focused on the higher levelclassification within the family, and now it is necessary to study the relationships between and within genera usinga similar approach. Here, we investigated the taxonomic status of the genus Hylocharis, a member of the Emeraldscomplex, whose relationships with other genera are unclear; we also investigated the existence of the Basilinna genus.We obtained sequences of mitochondrial (ND2: 537 bp) and nuclear genes (AK-5 intron: 535 bp, and c-mos: 572 bp)for 6 of the 8 currently recognized species and outgroups. Our analyses, using 3 different inference methods (MaximunParsimony, Likelihood and Bayesian methods), corroborate the existence of the hummingbird genus Basilinna ascomposed of 2 species commonly assigned to the genus Hylocharis: leucotis and xantusii. Our study also supportsthat Hylocharis is a paraphyletic genus that includes species belonging to the genus Amazilia.