The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, Dyche Hall, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2009 Dec;53(3):613-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2009.06.014. Epub 2009 Jul 2.
Understanding the relationships and evolution of flowerpeckers has been challenging, particularly as no phylogenetic study has as yet assessed the group. Here, we present a first such analysis of this clade based on sequences of two mitochondrial genes and one nuclear intron. Our analyses offer strong support for monophyly of the Dicaeidae. Within the family, 4 Dicaeum species (D. chrysorrheum, D. melanoxanthum, D. agile, and D. everetii) had closer affinity to Prionochilus, although tests of alternative topologies could not reject reciprocal monophyly of the two genera. Across the family, overall bill shape trends from more stout bills basally to more slender and medium bills, whereas sexual dichromatism and plumage patterns show much more homoplasy. Taxonomically, generic allocations may need to be changed to reflect historical relationships better.
理解啄花鸟科的关系和进化一直具有挑战性，特别是因为目前还没有任何系统发育研究评估过这个科。在这里，我们根据两个线粒体基因和一个核内含子的序列，对这个科进行了首次这样的分析。我们的分析强烈支持了佛法僧科的单系性。在这个科内，4 种笛鸟（D. chrysorrheum、D. melanoxanthum、D. agile 和 D. everetii）与翠鸟属（Prionochilus）的亲缘关系更近，尽管替代拓扑结构的测试无法排除这两个属的相互单系性。在整个科内，总体上喙的形状从基部的更粗壮到更细长和中等，而性二态性和羽毛图案显示出更多的趋同。在分类学上，为了更好地反映历史关系，可能需要改变属的分配。
