Deep divergence of Red-crowned Ant Tanager ( Habia rubica : Cardinalidae), a multilocus phylogenetic analysis with emphasis in Mesoamerica

A robust phylogenetic analysis reveals that the Red-crowned Ant Tanager (Habia rubica) exhibits deep genetic divergence, with seven distinct phylogroups corresponding to major geographical discontinuities such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Talamanca Cordillera, and Isthmus of Panama. These findings suggest a complex history of diversification in this polytypic species, particularly in its northern distribution, where at least seven well-supported lineages may represent distinct species. The study used multilocus analyses of five molecular markers (ND2, ACOI-I9, MUSK, FGB-I5, and ODC) across the species' range from Central Mexico to South America, providing a detailed hypothesis for its evolutionary trajectory.

Ramírez-Barrera, S. M., Hernández-Baños, B. E., Jaramillo-Correa, J. P., & Klicka, J. (2018). Deep divergence of Red-crowned Ant Tanager ( Habia rubica : Cardinalidae), a multilocus phylogenetic analysis with emphasis in Mesoamerica. PeerJ, 6, e5496. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5496