Selection of a neotype for Apteryx mantelli Bartlett, 1852, with the support of genetic data

2009·2.1 MB·English

by  Lara D Shepherd

LaraD. Shepherdetal. 195 Bull. B.O.C. 2009 129(4)
Selection of a neotype for Apteryx mantelli Bartlett, 1852,
with the support of genetic data
by Lara D. Shepherd, Joanne Cooper, James Haile, Paul Scofield,
&
Alan D. Tennyson Trevor H. Worthy
J.
Received30September2008
—
Summary. Genetic studies in kiwis (Apteryx spp.) have led to a number of recent
taxonomic changes, including the recognition of three species of brown kiwi. For
one of these species. North Island Brown Kiwi Apteryx mantelli Bartlett, 1852, no
holotype was originallynominated and the type series has remained unidentified.
Wesearchedforpotentialsyntypesbutwereunsuccessful. Therefore,wedesignate
a neotype that preserves the current usage of A. mantelli for extant North Island
brownkiwi.
Studies of genetic variation in modern and ancient populations of New Zealand's
Brown Kiwi Apteryx aiistralis (Baker et al. 1995, Burbidge et al. 2003, Shepherd & Lambert
2008) have revealed distinct genetic groupings that are not completely congruent with tra-
ditional taxonomic schemes (e.g. Turbott 1990). These studies have led to a number of
taxonomic changes, includingthe description ofanewkiwi species,Apteryx rowiTennyson
etal.,2003,fromthewestcoastofNewZealand'sSouthIsland. Furthermore,itisnowwide-
ly accepted that North Island Brown Kiwi A. mantelli Bartlett, 1852, is specifically distinct
from South Island Brown Kiwi A. australis Shaw, 1813, and they are now usually listed as
species as they were originally described (e.g., Holdaway et al. 2001, Tennyson et al. 2003,
Robertson 2003).
Abraham Dee Bartlett (1812-97), a British taxidermist and natural history dealer who
published papers on avian taxonomy, behavioural and avicultural matters (Anon. 1897)
firstrecognised the distinctiveness ofthebrown kiwi from the North Island. When Bartlett
describedApteryxmantelliatameetingoftheZoologicalSocietyofLondonon 10December
1850,hegavetheimpreciselocalityof'NorthIsland' and,aswasthencommonpractice,did
notnominateaholotype (Bartlett1852). Bartlettspecifiedhisuseofkiwispecimensfromthe
collectionsoftheBritishMuseum,theZoologicalSocietyandtheRoyalCollegeofSurgeons,
butgave no indication ofthenumbers ofindividuals involved, nor their specific identifica-
tions. None ofthese syntypes has sincebeen located.
In the course of studies of genetic diversity inbrown kiwis, complex phylogeographi-
calpatternshavebeenrevealed (Bakeretal. 1995, Burbidgeetal. 2003, Shepherd & Lambert
2008) thatmake itnecessary to clarify thebiologicalentity to whichthenameApteryx man-
telli Bartlett, 1852, applies. Modern and ancient samples of brown kiwis from the North
Island separate into several distinct genetic clades, including one now believed to be only
extantintheSouthIsland (Shepherd & Lambert2008). Itisnotknowntowhichofthesethe
nameA. mantelliBartlett, 1852, shouldbe associated, thus precluding anyfurther taxonom-
ic distinctions.
We set out to locate specimens in Bartlett's syntype series, and nominate a lectotype if
appropriate. Measurements from two potential syntypes were compared with Bartlett's
descriptionbutsincenonewasaclosematch,aneotypeisnominatedthatpreservesthecur-
rent usage ofApteryx mantelli for extantNorth Island Brown Kiwi.
LaraD. Shepherd etal. 196 Bull. B.O.C. 2009 129(4)
Methods
Identification ofpotential syntypes
Using Bartlett's description, the collections in the Royal College of Surgeons and
Natural History Museum in Tring, where the avian collections of the former British
Museum and Zoological Society's museum are now housed, were searched for potential
s\T:it}^es ofApteryx mantelli Bartlett, 1852, during 2005/06.
Results and designation of a neotype
Noreliablytraceablepre-1850 specimens ofApteryx mantelli appeartohave sur\dvedin
the collections oftheRoyalCollege ofSurgeons,whichno^v include onlya smallnumberof
fluid-preser^^ed, partial anatomical preparations (SurgiCat 2006), most of which are not
identified beyond genus. Whilst further investigation may reveal some of this material to
potentially hold syntype status for A. mantelli, given that they cannot be adequately com-
pared to the description, it would be inappropriate to use any of them as a potential
lectotvpe.
Inhis catalogue ofbirds intheBritishMuseum, Gray (1844) listed onh'threespecimens
BMNH
of Apteryx australis, two of which were subsequently re-identified as A. mantelli:
BMNH
1838.5.12.102, presented by the Earl of Derby and 1842.5.17.2, presented by Miss
NHM
RebeccaStone. Thesetwospecimens arethe onlyextantexamples ofA. mantelliinthe
collections thatpre-date Bartlett's 1850 research. No specimens ofA. australis orA. mantelli
were found amongst the collections recei\^ed by the British Museum at the dispersal of the
Zoological Society's museumin 1855.
DNA analysis of sequences obtained from the two BMNH specimens grouped them
with previously published North Island Brown Kiwi DNA sequences Haile and L.
(J.
Shepherd unpubl.; GenBank accession nos. DG295829 and DQ295830). However, compari-
son of Bartlett's plate XXXI, depicting the right foot in mirror image (as is usual in
lithography), with those ofboth specimens has re\'ealed that neither is an exact match for
the plate. Both are scutellated significantlv further up the tarsus thanis shown ontheplate.
BMNH
Although 1838.5.12.102 matches Bartlett's origmal description in its dark plumage
coloration, neither specimen is a close match to Bartlett's morphological measurements
(Table 1). We therefore consider thatboth BMNH 1838.5.12.102 and BMNH 1842.5.17.2 are
not sufficiently similar to Bartlett's description of A. mantelli to be considered s\Tit\^es.
Owing to the poorpreser\^ation of the BMNH specimens we ha\e decided nottonominate
either of these specimens as the neot)pe and instead select the best-preser\-ed specimen of
this taxon for which DNA sequence data is a\^ailable.
TABLE
1.
ComparisonofmeasurementsfromBartlett(1852) andAptcn/x mantellistudyskins. Bartlett'soriginal
measurementsweregivenininches;themillimetreequi\alentisprovidedinbrackets.Measurement
methodsfollowTennysonetal. (2003). -= datanotavailable.
Bartlett(1852) BMNH BMNH OR.9375
1838.5.12.102 1842.5.17.2 (neot\p>e)
Billfrom forehead 6in. (101.6) 109.0 119.3 127.2'
Tarsus 2V2in.(69.8) 67.6 70.2 C.76
Middletoeandclaw 35/8in.(63.5) 61.8 62.5 C.80
Bristlelength 68.2
%
Bristle 53.6
Scutecount(rightleg) 7
LaraD. Shepherdetal. 197 Bull. B.O.C.2009 129(4)
Apteryx mantelli Bartlett, 1852
—
Neotype. Female skin, no. OR. 9375 of the collection ofthe Museum ofNew Zealand
Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand. Collected at Ohakune, North Island, New
ZealandbyL. Rowleson 17August 1960andpresentedtothemuseumbyM. P. Scott. DNA
sequences from this specimen strongly supported its placement within a clade comprising
NorthIsland BrownKiwi (Haplotype29 inFig. 1 fromShepherd & Lambert2008;GenBank
accession nos. AY713368 and AY713335). Furthermore, the morphology of this specimen
represents typicalA. mantelliandhas mostofthe characters originallydescribedby Bartlett
(1852) todistinguishhisspecies fromA. australis, apartfromhis scute count, whichappears
erroneous (see Tennyson et al. 2003). Distinguishing characters for all brown kiwis were
presented in Tennysonet al.—(2003).
Description ofneotype. Adultfemale ofweight 51b 15 oz (2,690 g). Dried colours are
as follows. Feathers: streakedbrown andblack lengthwise, with a rufous hue on thebird's
back and flanks. Outer wing feathers: unbarred. Bill: horn. Legs and claws: dark brown.
Plumage 'harsh' when stroked backwards. Elongate barbless regions at the wing feather
bases. Measurements are given in Table 1.
Acknowledgements
WethanktheNaturalHistoryMuseum (Tring) forpermissiontosamplethekiwiskinsandSimonChaplin
forsearchingthecollectionsoftheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsofEngland. RobertPrys-Jones,BrianGilland
LeonPerrieprovidedhelpfulcommentsonthemanuscript.
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Addresses:L.D.Shepherd,AllanWilsonCentreforMolecularEcologyandEvolution,InstituteofMolecular
Biosciences,MasseyUniversity,PrivateBag11222,PalmerstonNorth,NewZealand.A.].D.Tennyson,
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, P.O. Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand. P. Scofield,
CanterburyMuseum,RollestonAvenue,Christchurch,NewZealand. T. H. Worthy,SchoolofEarth&
Environmental Science, Darling Building DP 418, University ofAdelaide, North Terrace, Australia. J.
Cooper,BirdGroup,Dept.ofZoology,NaturalHistoryMuseum,Tring,Herts.HP236AP,UK.].Haile,
HenryWellcomeAncientBiomoleculesCentre,Dept.ofZoology,OxfordUniversity,SouthParksRoad,
OxfordOXl 3PS,UK.
©BritishOrnithologists'Club2009