Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 4216 No. 4: 9 Jan. 2017
Type: Article
Published: 2017-01-09
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4216.4.1
Page range: 301–320
Abstract views: 412
PDF downloaded: 222

Phylogeny and new taxonomy of the Booted Eagles (Accipitriformes: Aquilinae)

Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College, 801 National Road West, Richmond IN 47374 USA.
National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour NSW Australia
Natural History Museum Vienna, 1st Zoological Department - Ornithology, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
American Museum of Natural History and Biology Department, LIU Brooklyn, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 USA
Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
Collections Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746.
Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College, 801 National Road West, Richmond IN 47374 USA.
Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College, 801 National Road West, Richmond IN 47374 USA.
Climate Impacts Group, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Box 355674, Seattle, WA 98195-5672.
HUNT Research Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Forskningsveien 2, 7600 Levanger.
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, California 94720-3160 USA
Department of Integrative Biology and Michigan State Museum, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA. Email: rasmus39@msu.edu, and Bird Group, The Natural History Museum-UK, Akeman Street, Tring HP23 6AP, UK
Trollafjæra 80, 7018 Trondheim.
Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College, 801 National Road West, Richmond IN 47374 USA.
Heidelberg University, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg Germany.
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, P.O. Box 5685 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim Norway.
Aves Molecular phylogeny morphology Nisaetus Spizaetus Clanga Hieraaetus Aquila Oroaetus Spizastur Lophotriorchis

Abstract

We present a phylogeny of all booted eagles (38 extant and one extinct species) based on analysis of published sequences from seven loci. We find molecular support for five major clades within the booted eagles: Nisaetus (10 species), Spizaetus (4 species), Clanga (3 species), Hieraaetus (6 species) and Aquila (11 species), requiring generic changes for 14 taxa. Additionally, we recommend that the Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) and the Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) remain in their monotypic genera, due to their distinctive morphology. We apply the recently resurrected genus Clanga for the spotted eagles (previously Aquila spp.) to resolve the paraphyly of the genus Aquila such that the clade including the Booted Eagle (H. pennatus), Little Eagle (H. morphnoides), Pygmy Eagle (H. weiskei), Ayres’s Eagle (H. ayresii) and Wahlberg’s Eagle (H. wahlbergi) can remain in the genus Hieraaetus. The Rufous-bellied Eagle should be retained in the genus Lophotriorchis. For consistency in English names, we recommend that the term “hawk-eagles” be used only for the species in the genera Nisaetus and Spizaetus. We suggest following new or modified English names: Cassin’s Eagle (Aquila africana), Bonaparte’s Eagle (A. spilogaster), Ayres’s Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii), and Black-and-chestnut Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus isidori).

 

References

  1. Adamowicz, C. (1858) Énumération des travaux scientifiques littéraires publiés ou en manuscrits de C. Tyzenhauz. Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée, Série 2, 9, 601–604.

    Amadon, D. (1982) The genera of booted eagles: Aquila and its relatives. Journal of the Yamashina Institute of Ornithology, 14, 108–121.
    https://doi.org/10.3312/jyio1952.14.108

    American Ornithologists’ Union (1998) AOU Check-list of North American Birds, 7th edition. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C., 829 pp.

    Blyth, E. (1845) Notes and descriptions of various new or little known species of birds. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 14, 173–212.

    Bonaparte, C.L. (1850) Revue générale de la classe des oiseaux. Première parte. Perroquets et oiseaux de proie. Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée, Série 2, 2, 474–492.

    Bouckaert, R.R. & Heled, J. (2014) DensiTree 2: Seeing Trees Through the Forest. bioRxiv, 012401. [published online]
    https://doi.org/10.1101/012401

    Brehm, C.L. (1831) Handbuch der Naturgeschichte aller Vögel Deutschlands. 8 Vols. Voigt, Ilmenau, 1085 pp.

    Brehm, C.L. (1861) Bericht 13 ueber die Versammlungen der allgemeinen Deutschen Ornithologen-Gesellschaft, 1860, 60–62.

    Brown, L. & Amadon, D. (1968) Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World. Country Life Books, London, 945 pp.

    Bunce, M., Szulkin, M., Lerner, H.R.L., Barnes, I., Shapiro, B. & Cooper, A. (2005) Ancient DNA provides new insight into the evolutionary history of New Zealand’s extinct giant eagle. PLoS Biology, 3, 1–4.
    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030009

    Cassin, J. (1865) Notes on some new and little known rapacious birds. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 17, 2–5.

    Clark, W.S. (2012) The eagle genus Hieraaetus is distinct from Aquila, with comments on the name Ayres’ Eagle. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 132, 295–298.

    Clements, J.F., Schulenberg, T.S., IIiff, M.J., Roberson, D., Fredricks, T.A., Sullivan, B.L. & Wood, C.L. (2014) The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: Version 6.9. Available from: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/ (accessed 31 May 2015)

    Daudin, F.M. (1800) Traité élémentaire et complet d’ornithologie, ou, Histoire naturelle des oiseaux. Tome 2. Bertrandet, Paris, 473 pp.

    Debus, S.J.S., Hatfield, T.S., Ley, A.J. & Rose, A.B. (2007) Breeding biology and diet of the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides in the New England region of New South Wales. Australian Field Ornithology, 24, 137–157.

    Dementiev, G.P., Gladkov, N.A., Ptushenko, E.S., Spangenberg, E.P. & Sudilovskaya, A.M. (1966) Birds of the Soviet Union. Vol. 1. Israel Program for Scientific Translation, Jerusalem, Israel, 704 pp.

    Des Murs, M.O. (1845) Description de quelques espèces nouvelles d'Oiseaux. Revue Zoologique, 1845, 175–179.

    de Sparre, G. (1835) [Description of Astur kienerii.] Magasin de zoologie, 5 (Classe 2), pl. 35, unpaginated.

    Dickinson, E.C., Overstreet, L.K., Dowsett, R.J. & Bruce, M.D. (2011) Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology. A Directory to the Literature and its Reviewers. Aves Press, Northampton, 319 pp.

    Dickinson, E.C. & Remsen, J.V. Jr. (Eds.) (2013) The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1. 4th Edition. Aves Press, Eastbourne, U.K., 512 pp.

    Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D. (2001) Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, New York, 992 pp.

    Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D. (2005) Raptors of the World: A Field Guide. Christopher Helm, New York, 320 pp.

    Franklin, J. (1831) [Exhibition of a collection of birds formed by Major James Franklin.] Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London, Part 1, 114–125.

    Gamauf, A., Gjershaug, J.O., Kvaløy, K., Røv, N. & Haring, E. (2005a) Molecular phylogeny of hawk-eagles (genus Spizaetus). Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden, 79 (3), 179–180.

    Gamauf, A., Gjershaug, J.O., Røv, N., Kvaløy, K. & Haring, E. (2005b) Species or subspecies? The dilemma of taxonomic ranking of some South-East Asian hawk-eagles (genus Spizaetus). Bird Conservation International, 15, 99–117.
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270905000080

    Gill, F. & Donsker, D. (Eds.) (2016) IOC World Bird Names (version 6.1). http://www.worldbirdnames.org (accessed 31 Mar 2016)

    Gjershaug, J.O., Kvaløy, K., Røv, N., Prawiradilaga, D.M., Suparman, U. & Rahman, Z. (2004) The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris. Forktail, 20, 55–62.

    Gjershaug, J.O., Diserud, O. & Rasmussen, P.C. (2008) An overlooked threatened species of eagle: Legge’s Hawk-eagle Nisaetus kelaarti. Zootaxa, 1792, 54–66.

    Gjershaug, J.O., Lerner, H.R.L. & Diserud, O. (2009) Taxonomic status and distribution of the Pygmy Eagle Aquila weiskei. Zootaxa, 2326, 24–38.

    Global Raptor Information Network (GRIN) (2015) Available from: http://www.globalraptors.org (accessed 30 April 2016).

    Gmelin, J.F. (1788) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Beer, Lipsiae, 500 pp.

    Gould, J. (1841) [Exhibition of new Australian birds.] Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1840, 159–165.

    Gould, J. (1863) The Birds of Asia. Vol. 1. Published by the author, London, unpaginated.

    Gray, G.R. (1840) A List of the Genera of Birds, with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus. Taylor, London, viii + 80 pp.

    Gray, G.R. (1861) List of birds collected by Mr. Wallace at the Molucca Islands, with descriptions of new species, etc. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1860 (Part 28), 341–366.

    Gregory, S.M.S. & Dickinson, E.C. (2012) Clanga has priority over Aquiloides (or how to drop a clanger). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 132, 135–136.

    Griffiths, C.S., Barrowclough, G.F., Groth, J.G. & Mertz, L.A. (2007) Phylogeny, diversity, and classification of the Accipitridae based on DNA sequences of the RAG-1 exon. Journal of Avian Biology, 38, 587–602.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.03971.x

    Gurney, J.H. (1862) A fourth additional list of birds received from Natal. The Ibis, 4, 149–158.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1862.tb07483.x

    Haast, J. (1872) Notes on Harpagornis moorei, an extinct gigantic bird of prey, containing description of femur, ungual phalanges, and rib. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 4, 192–196.

    Haring, E., Kvaløy, K., Gjershaug, J.O., Røv, N. & Gamauf, A. (2007) Convergent evolution in hawk-eagles of the genus Spizaetus: molecular phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial marker sequences. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 45, 353–365.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.2007.00410.x

    Hartert, E. (1898) On the birds collected by Mr. Everett in south Flores. Part II. Novitates Zoologicae, 5, 42–50.

    Helbig, A.J., Kocum, A., Seibold, I. & Braun, M.J. (2005) A multi-gene phylogeny of aquiline eagles (Aves: Accipitriformes) reveals extensive paraphyly at the genus level. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 35, 147–164.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.003

    Hodgson, B.H. (1833) On a species of Aquila, Circæetus, and Dicrurus. Asiatic Researches, 18 (Part 2), 13–26.

    Hodgson, B.H. (1836) Summary description of some new species of Falconidae. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 5 (Part I), 227–231.

    Horsfield, T. (1821) XIV. Systematic arrangement and description of birds from the island of Java. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 13, 133–200.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1821.tb00061.x

    del Hoyo, J. & Collar, N.J. (2014) HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 904 pp.

    Huelsenbeck, J.P. & Ronquist, F. (2001) MRBAYES: Bayesian inference of phylogeny. Bioinformatics, 17, 754–755.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/17.8.754

    Jollie, M. (1977) A contribution to the morphology and phylogeny of the Falconiformes, Part 3. Evolutionary Theory, 3, 1–141.

    Junge, G.C.A. (1936) Fauna simalurensis—Aves. Temminckia, 1, 24–24.

    Kaup, J.J. (1844) Classification der Säugetiere und Vögel. Leske, Darmstadt, 200 pp.

    Kaup, J.J. (1847) Monographien der Genera der Falconidae. Isis von Oken, Leipzig, 342 pp.

    Kocum, A., Huddleston, C.J., Helbig, A.J., Holznagel, W.E., Seibold, I., Krosby, M. & Braun, M.J. (2009) Evolutionary history of diurnal birds of prey (Aves: Accipitriformes). [Genbank direct submission]

    Lanfear, R., Calcott, B., Ho, S.Y.W. & Guindon, S. (2012) PartitionFinder: combined selection of partitioning schemes and substitution models for phylogenetic analyses. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 29, 1695–1701.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mss020

    Latham, J. (1801) Supplementum Indicis ornithologici sive Systematis ornithologiae. Leigh & Sotheby, London, lxxiv pp.

    Legge, W.V. (1878) [Remarks on birds of Ceylon.] The Ibis, Series 4, 2, 201–204.

    Lerner, H.R.L. & Mindell, D.P. (2005) Phylogeny of eagles, old world vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37, 327–346.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010

    Lesson, R.P. (1831a) Oiseaux. In: Bélanger, C.F. “1834”. Voyage aux Indes-Orientales par le Nord de l’Europe, les provinces du Caucase, la Géorgie, l’Arménie et la Perse, suivi de détails topographiques, statistiques et autres sur le Pégou, les ȋles de Java, de Maurice et de Bourbon, sur le Cap-de-Bonne-Espérance et Sainte-Hélène, pendant les années 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828 et 1829. Zoologie. Livraisons 3 & 4. Arthus Bertrand, Paris, pp. 161–288.

    Lesson, R.P. (1831b) Century zoologique, ou choix d’animaux rares, nouveaux ou imparfaitement connus. Livraisons 4–12. Levrault, Strasbourg, pp. 49–192, pls. 11–64.

    Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata, Salviae, Holmiae, 824 pp.

    Linnaeus, C. (1766) Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio duodecima, reformata, Salviae, Holmiae, 532 pp.

    Miller, M., Pfeiffer, W. & Schwartz, T. (2010) Creating the CIPRES Science Gateway for inference of large phylogenetic trees. Gateway Computing Environments Workshop (GCE), 14–14 November 2010, 1–7.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/GCE.2010.5676129

    Pallas, P.S. (1811) Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, sistens omnium animalium in extensor Imperio Rossico et adjacentibus maribus observatorum recensionem, domicilia, mores et descriptions, anatomen atque icons plurimorum. Vol. 1. Caes. Academiae Scientiarum, St. Petersburg, 568 pp.

    Parry, S.J. (2001) The Booted Eagles (Aves: Accipitridae): Perspectives in Evolutionary Biology. Ph.D. thesis, University College London, London, 1958 pp.

    Parry, S.J., Clark, W.S. & Prakash, V. (2002) On the taxonomic status of the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata. The Ibis, 144, 665–675.
    https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00109.x

    Peters, J.L. (1931) Check-list of Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, xviii + 345 pp.

    Preleuthner, M. & Gamauf, A. (1998) A possible new subspecies of the Philippine Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus philippensis) and its future prospects. Journal of Raptor Research, 32, 126–135.

    Rambaut, A. & Drummond, A.J. (2012) Tracer, MCMC Trace Analysis Tool, v1.5.0. University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

    Rambaut, A. (2012) FigTree v1. 4.0. University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

    Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton, J.C. (2012) Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. 2 Vols. 2nd Edition. Lynx Edicions, Smithsonian Institution & Michigan State University; Barcelona, Washington, D.C. & East Lansing, Michigan; 384 pp.

    Reichenow, A. (1900) Neue Arten vom südöstlichen Neuguinea und Nordqueensland. Ornithologische Monatsberichte, 8, 185–188.

    Remsen, J.V. Jr., Areta, J.I., Cadena, C.D., Jaramillo, A., Nores, M., Pacheco, J.F., Perez-Emen, J., Robbins, M.B., Stiles, F.G., Stotz, D.F. & Zimmer, K.J. (2015) A Classification of the Bird Species of South America. American Ornithologists' Union. Version 13 May 2015. Available from: http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline05.htm (Accessed June 2, 2015)

    Ronquist, F. & Huelsenbeck, J.P. (2003) MRBAYES 3: Bayesian phylogenetic inference under mixed models. Bioinformatics, 19, 1572–1574.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btg180

    Savigny, J.-C. (1809) Système des oiseaux de l’Egypte et de la Syrie. Description de l’Egypte, Histoire naturelle, Tome remier, 62–114.

    Sclater, W.L. (1922) [Notes on the nomenclature and taxonomy of African birds.] Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 42, 72–77.

    Sharpe, R.B. (1874) Catalogue of the Accipitres, or diurnal birds of prey, in the collection of the British Museum. Catalogue of the Birds of the British Museum. Vol. 1. Trustees of the British Museum, London, 479 pp.

    Stamatakis, A., Hoover, P. & Rougemont, J. (2008) A rapid bootstrap algorithm for the RAxML web servers. Systematic Biology, 57, 758–771.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/10635150802429642

    Stresemann, E. (1924) Raubvogelstudien II. Die Formenkreise Spizaëtus nipalensis (Hodgson) und Spizaëtus cirrhatus (Gmelin). Journal für Ornithologie, 72, 430–432.

    Stresemann, E. (1932) Ein neuer Habichtsadler aus Sumbawa: Hieraaëtus fasciatus renschi subsp. nova. Ornithologische Monatsberichte, 40, 78–80.

    Stresemann, E. & Amadon, D. (1979) Order Falconiformes. In: Mayr, E. & Cottrell, G.W. (Eds.), Check-list of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1. 2nd Edition. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, pp. 271–425. [547 pp.]

    Sundevall, C.J. (1850) Foglar från Södra Afrika. Öfversigt af Konglig Vetenskaps-Akademiens Forhandlingar, 7, 96–110.

    Tamura, K., Peterson, D., Peterson, N., Stecher, G., Nei, M. & Kumar, S. (2011) MEGA5: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis using Maximum Likelihood, Evolutionary Distance, and Maximum Parsimony Methods. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 28, 2731–2739.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msr121

    Temminck, C.J. (1822) Nouveau Recueil de Planches coloriées d’Oiseaux, pour server de suite et de complément aux Planches Enluminées de Buffon. Published by the author, Paris, 20 pp, pl. 117. [Livraison]

    Temminck, C.J. (1828) Nouveau Recueil de Planches coloriées d’Oiseaux, pour server de suite et de complément aux Planches Enluminées de Buffon. Published by the author, Paris. Tome 1, 235pp., pl. 455. [Livraison]

    Temminck, C.J. & Schlegel, H. (1844) Aves. In: von Siebold, P. F., Fauna Japonica, sive, Descriptio animalium, quae in itinere per Japoniam, jussu et auspiciis, superiorum, qui summum in India Batava imperium tenant, suscepto, annis 1823–1830. Arnz & Co., Leiden, pp. 1–141.

    Thiollay, J.M. (1994) Family Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (Eds.), Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, pp. 52–205. [638 pp.]

    Thompson, J.D., Higgins, D.G. & Gibson, T.J. (1994) CLUSTAL W: improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choice. Nucleic Acids Research, 22, 4673–4680.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/22.22.4673

    Trainor, C.R., Debus, S.J.S., Olsen, J., Norman, J.A. & Christidis, L. (2013) Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata renschi in the Lesser Sundas, Wallacea: distribution, taxonomic status, likely origins and conservation status. Forktail, 29, 100–106.

    Tytler, R.C. (1865) Description of a new species of Spizaetus. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1865, 112–112.

    Väli, U. (2006) Mitochondrial DNA sequences support species status for the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 126, 238–242.

    Vieillot, L.P. (1816a) Analyse d’une Nouvelle Ornithologie Elementaire. A. Belin, Deterville, Paris, 70 pp.

    Vieillot, L.P. (1816b) Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Histoire naturelle. Tome 4. Deterville, Paris, 602 pp.

    Vieillot, L.P. (1822) Sur une nouvelle espèce d’aigle découverte en France, et décrite par M. Vieillot (I), un des membres honoraires de la Société Linnéenne de Paris. Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Paris, 2 (Part 2), 152–154.

    Wallace, A.R. (1868) On the raptorial birds of the Malay Archipelago. The Ibis, new series, 13, 1–27.

    Wells, D.R. & Inskipp, T.P. (2012) A proposed new genus of booted eagles (tribe Aquilini). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 132, 70–72.

    Wink, M. & Sauer-Gürth, H. (2004) Phylogenetic relationships in diurnal raptors based on nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear marker genes. In: Chancellor, R.D. & Meyburg, B.-U. (Eds.), Raptors Worldwide. MME/WWGBP, Budapest/Berlin, pp. 483–498.

    Wolters, H.E. (1975–1982) Die Vogelarten der Erde. Eine systematische Liste mit Verbreitungsangaben sowie deutschen und englischen Namen. Paul Parey, Hamburg, 745 pp.

    zu Wied-Neuwied, M.A.P. (1820) Reise nach Brasilien in den Jahren 1815 bis 1817. Erster Band. Brönner, Frankfurt, 376 pp.