Relationships of Australo‐Papuan songbirds‐protein evidence

Allelic frequencies determined by protein electrophoresis were used to assess relationships and familial groupings among the Australian‐New Guinean songbirds. Hypotheses of relationships were generated from the data by UPGMA, distance‐Wagner and cladistic analyses. The resulting protein‐based topologies were compared with recent DNA‐DNA hybridization studies which separate the major Australo‐Papuan families from Eurasian‐centred groups and cluster them in a single endemic radiation. Although both data sets are concordant in may areas, they differ significantly in their alignment of the Australo‐Papuan Menuridae, Climacteridae, Ptilonorhynchidae, Maluridae, Eopsaltriidae and Orthonychidae. Possible explanations for these discrepancies are examined. Both data sets otherwise agree in identifying an endemic radiation of Australo‐Papuan songbirds in which some 75% of regional species are clustered in two principal assemblages. One includes the honeyeaters Meliphagidae and their allies Epthianuridae, Acanthizidae, Pardalotidae and, arguably, Eopsaltriidae (Australo‐Papuan robins) and Orthonychidae (logrunners). The other comprises corvoid birds (Corvoidea), including Pachycephalidae, Monarchidae, Cracticidae, Artamidae, Paradisaeidae, Corvidae, Oriolidae, Campephagidae and possibly Ptilonorhynchidae (bowerbirds) amongst others. Menuridae (lyrebirds), Climacteridae (treecreepers), and Maluridae (fairy wrens) are also members of the radiation but of less certain affinity. The remaining species are grouped in a number of families forming a third assemblage of apparent Eurasian origin, the parvorder Passerida. The concept of a Gondwanan origin for the Passeriformes is canvassed.