A systematic revision of the polytypic Spotted Antpitta (Hylopezus macularius, Grallariidae) based on morphometric, plumage, vocal, and molecular characters is presented. Morphological and vocal analyses were based, respectively,
on 45 specimens and 104 recordings. Molecular phylogenies were inferred based on
ca. 1.371 bp of the mitochondrial DNA genes 16S, ND2, and cyt b belonging to 26
specimens, including several outgroups. Our results revealed the existence of an
undescribed taxon endemic to the Madeira – Xingu interfluve, cryptically similar in
morphology to paraensis, but vocally and genetically readily distinguished from the
latter and any other taxon grouped under H. macularius. Molecular trees obtained
recovered with strong support the reciprocal monophyly among four main lineages of
the Spotted Antpitta, three corresponding to already named taxa (dilutus, macularius,
and paraensis), and one to the unnamed taxon, which is described herein. We show
that those four taxa are also mutually diagnosed by a combination of both vocal and
morphological features, and therefore recommend treating them as separate species.
Dating of the molecular trees indicated that splits among species of the Spotted
Antpitta complex took place between 2.92 and 0.78 mya, with the older splits
concentrated in northwestern Amazonia (across the Negro and upper Amazon rivers)
and the most recent ones in the southeastern part of the basin (across the Xingu river).
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