Evolution in the high Andes: the phylogenetics of Muscisaxicola Ground-Tyrants

Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Mus-cisaxicola, a primarily Andean group of tyrant-fly-catchers, were studied using complete sequences of the mitochondrial genes COII and ND3. Relationships among Muscisaxicola species were found to differ sub-stantially from those of previous views, suggesting convergence in traditional avian taxonomic charac-ters within the genus. The 11 species of large, gray, "typical " Muscisaxicola flycatchers (including M. grísea, new^ly restored to species status) formed a dis-tinct clade, consisting of two major groups: a clade of 6 species breeding primarily in the central Andes and a clade of 5 species breeding primarily in the southern Andes. The other 2 species traditionally placed in this genus, M. fluviatilis, an Amazonian species, and M