Re: falcons and biogeography

[Michael Craig <>]

John,

Whilst not my field of expertise. I believe that current thinking is that
the New Zealand Falcon and the Brown Falcon are quite closely related and
certainly more closely related than they are to any other falcons. This
would seem logical biogeographically. Current thought is also that the Grey
and Black Falcons are more closely related to each other than to other
falcons. As to the debate as to where falcons originated. The lack of
other, less specialised, genera indicates that it is not Australia. However
this does not mean that falcons could not have invaded here at an early
stage, radiated and then re-invaded the rest of the world.

Mike Craig




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Michael Craig
Zoology Department
University of Western Australia
Nedlands
Western Australia
Australia 6907
Ph: +61 9 380 1495  Fax: +61 9 380 1029
email: