Phylogenetic relationships of fantails (Aves: Rhipiduridae) A ´ RPA ´ D S. NYA ´ RI,BRETT W. BENZ,KNUD A. JØNSSON,JON FJELDSA ˚ &ROBERT G. MOYLE Submitted: 17 February 2009 Accepted: 15 May 2009 doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2009.00397.x Nya ´ri, A ´ . S., Benz, B. W., Jønsson, K. A., Fjeldsa ˚, J. & Moyle, R. G. (2009). Phylogenetic relationships of fantails (Aves: Rhipiduridae). — Zoologica Scripta, 38, 553–561. We explore the phylogenetic relationships of fantails (Aves: Rhipiduridae) using molecular characters derived from two nuclear introns and two mitochondrial genes. Our results indicate that Rhipidura hypoxantha is not a true fantail, but rather a member of the Stenos- tiridae clade that is morphologically and behaviourally convergent with fantails. Within the true Rhipiduridae, we identified six distinct clades; however, phylogenetic relationships among these groups were unresolved. The only well-supported sister relationship was between members of the grey and the rufous fantail complexes. Clades recovered through our model-based phylogenetic analyses generally correspond to previously proposed fantail complexes based on morphological characters. The phylogenetic position of R. atra and R. diluta remain unclear, as sister relationships varied between analyses for the prior whereas the latter was placed as sister to the New Guinea thicket fantails, R. leucothorax and R. threnothorax; yet significant node support was not recovered for either taxa. Biogeographi- cally, fantails appear to have radiated rapidly and the six clades are not geographically restricted, but instead span South-east Asia, New Guinea, Australia and Pacific Islands. Corresponding author: A ´ rpa ´d S. Nya ´ri, Biodiversity Research Center, Dyche Hall, University of Kan- sas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561, USA. E-mail: arpi@ku.edu Brett W. Benz and Robert G. Moyle, Biodiversity Research Center, Dyche Hall, University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045-7561, USA. E-mails: bwbenz@ku.edu; moyle@ku.edu Knud A. Jønsson and Jon Fjeldsa ˚, Vertebrate Department, Zoological Museum, University of Copen- hagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. E-mails: kajonsson@snm.ku.dk; jfjeldsa@snm.ku.dk Introduction Fantails are a well-defined family of small-bodied insectivorous passerine birds distributed across the Oriental, Australasian and south-west Pacific island regions, with a centre of diversity located on New Guinea. Currently, ~44 species are recognized in a single genus, Rhipidura (Dickinson 2003; Boles 2006). Diagnostic to the family, all fantails exhibit elongated rectrices, which are held spread apart to form the characteristic fan- shaped tail that in some species may be held cocked and/or swung side to side. Besides obvious inter- and intraspecific signal functions, the tail is used, together with partly spread wings, as a ‘parachute’ during foraging, as the bird falls off its perch, tumbling towards the ground for passing insects (Boles 2006). From a taxonomic point of view, fantails have been suggested to share affinities with Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae), but this relationship appears to be convergent given their general feeding habits. Recent molecular work has indicated that fantails are part of the large Australo-Papuan songbird radiation, widely separate from the Muscicapidae, and instead part of the Corvoidea, most closely related to monarch fly- catchers (Monarchidae), drongos (Dicruridae) and in particular to the Pygmy Drongo, Chaetorhynchus papuensis (Barker et al. 2002, 2004; Cracraft et al. 2004; Irestedt et al. 2008). The cohe- siveness of the Rhipiduridae has not seen any major challenges, although one species, the Yellow-bellied Fantail (Rhipidura hypoxantha), stands out as having smaller body size compared to other rhipidurids, and is the only fantail with a carotenoid- based, bright yellow plumage. As such, this distinctive fantail has at times been assigned to a separate genus, Chelidorhynx (Boles 1979, 2006). Within the family, various subgroups and subgenera have been delineated, mainly based on plumage characters and geographical distribution. Probably the best-studied group is the grey fantail complex (Ford 1981; Schodde & Mason 1999; Boles 2006; Christidis & Boles 2008): occurring throughout the Australo-Papuan region, satellite islands and New Zealand, this complex includes the species R. albiscapa, ª 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation ª 2009 The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters d Zoologica Scripta, 38, 6, November 2009, pp 553–561 553