Ultraconserved elements support the elevation of a new avian family, Eurocephalidae, the white-crowned shrikes

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, we infer genus-level relationships within shrikes (Laniidae), crows (Corvidae), and their allies using ultraconserved elements (UCEs). We confirm previous results of the Crested Shrikejay (Platylophus galericulatus) as comprising its own taxonomic family and find strong support for its sister relationship to laniid shrikes. We also find strong support that the African-endemic genus Eurocephalus, which comprises two allopatric species (E. ruppelli and E. anguitimens), are not “true-shrikes.” We propose elevating the white-crowned shrikes to their own family, Eurocephalidae. LAY SUMMARY Understanding how species are related (systematics) and classified (taxonomy) is important to the study of the world's biodiversity. Recent work has raised doubt about the phylogenetic placement of the Crested Shrikejay (Platylophus galericulatus) and Eurocephalus, the white-crowned shrike genus, traditionally considered within the crow and jay family, Corvidae, and the shrike family, Laniidae, respectively. We collected a genome-wide dataset for all genera of shrikes, crows, and jays to determine their evolutionary histories with phylogenetic methods. We confirm that the Crested Shrikejay constitutes a family-level lineage most closely related to Laniidae, not Corvidae. We show for the first time that Eurocephalus also represents a family-level lineage separate from shrikes and more closely related to crows and jays. We propose a new avian family, Eurocephalidae, the white-crowned shrikes, for these two African-endemic birds. RÉSUMÉ Dans cette étude, nous inférons les relations à l'échelle du genre chez les Laniidae, les Corvidae et leurs alliés à l'aide d'éléments ultraconservés (EUC). Nous confirmons les résultats antérieurs concernant Platylophus galericulatus comme constituant sa propre famille taxonomique et nous trouvons un fort soutien de sa relation de sœur des Laniidae. Nous trouvons également un soutien solide que le genre endémique africain Eurocephalus, qui comprend deux espèces allopatriques (E. ruppelli et E. anguitimens), n'est pas composé de « vraies pies-grièches». Nous proposons d'élever ces espèces au rang de leur propre famille, les Eurocephalidae.