Harpy Eagle Phylogenetics
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Summit Botanical Gardens, Panama 2002
The phylogenetic relationships among the six species
of large eagles termed the 'Harpy Eagle group' remain poorly
understood: Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), Crested Eagle (Morphnus
guianensis), Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius),
Crowned Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus), New Guinea Harpy Eagle
(Harpyopsis novaeguineae) and the Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga
jefferyi). Currently, there are
several alternative proposals in the literature about Harpy Eagle group
phylogeny (Amadon,
1982; Amadon and Bull, 1988; Brown and Amadon, 1968; Dickenson et al.,
1991); however,
thorough genetic analyses are lacking. I will try to
determine if the six species placed in the Harpy Eagle group form a
monophyletic group when additional Accipitridae species are included. I will also address the sister relationships
within the group and identify other Accipitridae species most closely
related to the Harpy Eagle group. This
data would provide valuable information on the relative genetic
distinctiveness among the members of the Harpy Eagle group and the
relative ages and molecular uniqueness of the different taxa. A phylogenetic context is also important for
evaluating the history of changes in genotype, behavior, morphology,
physiology and geographical distribution of harpy eagles.
Sources:
Harpyhaliaetus solitarus; Harpyhaliaetus coronatus; Pithecophaga jefferyi; Morphnus guianensis; Harpyopsis novaeguineae
Other Harpy
Eagles
Sources:
Harpyhaliaetus solitarus; Harpyhaliaetus coronatus; Pithecophaga jefferyi; Morphnus guianensis; Harpyopsis novaeguineae
