Western Forest Robin
Encyclopedia
The Western Forest Robin (Stiphrornis erythrothorax) is a species of bird found at low levels in West Africa
n forests from Sierra Leone
to Nigeria
. It has been placed in the family
Turdidae, but is now generally placed in Muscicapidae. It commonly includes the other members in the genus
Stiphrornis as subspecies
, in which case the common name
for the "combined species" simply is Forest Robin. The Western Forest Robin can be separate from the other members of the genus by the combination of its deep orange throat and breast, white belly, and olive upperparts. It also appears to differ vocally from the other members in the genus, but a comprehensive study on this is lacking. When considered conspecific with the other members from its genus, S. erythrothorax is considered to be of least concern
by IUCN. While not rated following the split into several species, it has been described as frequent to locally abundant, and is therefore unlikely to qualify for a threatened category.
species. Of these, S. gabonensis
and S. xanthogaster
were formerly considered subspecies of S. erythrothorax, whereas S. saghensis
was described as an entirely new species. The split was not followed in Handbook of the Birds of the World
, where described as "perhaps premature". Comparably, the BirdLife
Taxonomic Working Group (and consequently IUCN) recommended not following the split, as differences in plumage
s are relatively small, genetic sampling considered incomplete, and evidence for intergradation
or parapatry is lacking. Another species from this complex
, S. pyrrholaemus
, was described as a new species
in 2008. Based on mtDNA, it is placed within S. erythrothorax sensu lato, and consequently is only a species (rather than a subspecies of S. erythrothorax) if at least some of the taxonomy
recommended in 1999 is followed. The genetic divergence
between S. pyrrholaemus and other members of the genus is comparable to that between some other closely related species.
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n forests from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It has been placed in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Turdidae, but is now generally placed in Muscicapidae. It commonly includes the other members in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Stiphrornis as subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
, in which case the common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
for the "combined species" simply is Forest Robin. The Western Forest Robin can be separate from the other members of the genus by the combination of its deep orange throat and breast, white belly, and olive upperparts. It also appears to differ vocally from the other members in the genus, but a comprehensive study on this is lacking. When considered conspecific with the other members from its genus, S. erythrothorax is considered to be of least concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by IUCN. While not rated following the split into several species, it has been described as frequent to locally abundant, and is therefore unlikely to qualify for a threatened category.
Taxonomy
The initial split into multiple species within this genus is based on a review from 1999 where it, based on the phylogenetic species concept, was argued that all then recognized taxa should be considered monotypicMonotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
species. Of these, S. gabonensis
Gabon Forest Robin
The Gabon Forest Robin is a small species of bird found at low levels of forests in Cameroon, Gabon and Bioko. It was considered a subspecies of S. erythrothorax until 1999, when it was recommended that it should be treated as a separate species...
and S. xanthogaster
Eastern Forest Robin
The Eastern Forest Robin is a small species of bird found at low levels in forests from Cameroon and Gabon to DR Congo and Uganda. It was considered a subspecies of S. erythrothorax until 1999, when it was recommended that it should be treated as a separate species...
were formerly considered subspecies of S. erythrothorax, whereas S. saghensis
Sangha Forest Robin
The Sangha Forest Robin is a small forest robin-type bird that is endemic to south-western Central African Republic, but may also occur in adjacent parts of DR Congo, Cameroon and Republic of the Congo. It was only discovered in 1996, and scientifically described in 1999...
was described as an entirely new species. The split was not followed in Handbook of the Birds of the World
Handbook of the Birds of the World
The Handbook of the Birds of the World is a multi-volume series produced by the Spanish publishing house Lynx Edicions. It is the first handbook to cover every known living species of bird. The series is edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal and David A Christie.So far, 15...
, where described as "perhaps premature". Comparably, the BirdLife
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
Taxonomic Working Group (and consequently IUCN) recommended not following the split, as differences in plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
s are relatively small, genetic sampling considered incomplete, and evidence for intergradation
Intergradation
In zoology, intergradation is the way in which two distinct subspecies are connected via areas where populations are found that have the characteristics of both...
or parapatry is lacking. Another species from this complex
Species complex
A species complex is a group of closely related species, where the exact demarcation between species is often unclear or cryptic owing to their recent and usually still incomplete reproductive isolation. Ring species, superspecies and cryptic species complex are example of species complex...
, S. pyrrholaemus
Olive-backed Forest Robin
The Olive-backed Forest Robin is a small species of bird found in the Gamba Complex in southwest Gabon. It was described in 2008. The Olive-backed Forest Robin can be separated from other species in the genus by the combination of its olive upperparts, bright orange throat and chest, and...
, was described as a new species
Bird species new to science described in the 2000s
This page details the bird species described as new to science in the years 2000 to 2010:-Number of species described per year:-Countries with high numbers of newly described species:* Brazil* Colombia* Peru* Indonesia-2000:...
in 2008. Based on mtDNA, it is placed within S. erythrothorax sensu lato, and consequently is only a species (rather than a subspecies of S. erythrothorax) if at least some of the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
recommended in 1999 is followed. The genetic divergence
Genetic divergence
Genetic divergence is the process in which two or more populations of an ancestral species accumulate independent genetic changes through time, often after the populations have become reproductively isolated for some period of time...
between S. pyrrholaemus and other members of the genus is comparable to that between some other closely related species.