birding-aus

Re 'Jabiru'

To: "Chris Ross" <>
Subject: Re 'Jabiru'
From: "Greg & Val Clancy" <>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:06:12 +1100
Hi Chris,

The problem is that the species (or subspecies) also occurs in New Guinea so it can't be Australian Jabiru and remember 'Jabiru' means 'swollen neck' which is hardly suitable for our slender-necked species.

I received an email asking for more information on why the subspecies may be considered for species status in the future. The writer also said please don't say that it is based on DNA!!!

Well it is based on DNA. Tissue samples were analysed from two Black-necked Storks, one an Australian bird and the other a captive bird believed to have been from Asia. The genetic distances were apparently further apart than those between some other stork species. The most likely conclusion that could be made from this is that we have two species. Christidis and Boles were going to split the species but decided to await further DNA analysis before doing so. Hence the species was not split in the 2008 edition. I hope that I have explained the genetics properly as it is not my field.


Greg Clancy
Coutts Crossing




<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU