Paludicolaptes, Raposo & Dubois & Kirwan & Assis & Höfling & Stopiglia, 2018

Raposo, Marcos A., Dubois, Alain, Kirwan, Guy M., Assis, Claydson Pinto De, Höfling, Elizabeth & Stopiglia, Renata, 2018, Synonymization of the genus nomen Dendroplex Swainson, 1827 and description of a new genus of woodcreeper (Aves: Passeriformes: Dendrocolaptidae) with remarks on Articles 67.5 and 70.3 of the Code, Zootaxa 4532 (4), pp. 561-566 : 564-565

Paludicolaptes genus nov.

Type species: Dendrornis kienerii Des Murs, 1855 .

Diagnosis: The genus Paludicolaptes differs immediately from those genera in its putative sister clade ( Campylorhamphus and Lepidocolaptes , see Aleixo 2002) by its straight and strong bill, and from all other Dendrocolaptidae by the combination of a straight pale bill and whitish pectoral streaks broadly bordered black or dark brown that generally do not reach the abdomen. It conforms to the usual pattern of Dendrocolaptidae syrinx and skull, differing from other families by presenting a combination of the following characters: Cartt. accessoriae named Processus vocalis with lateromedial projections (horns of the Processi vocales); strong reduction of the tracheal rings (elements) of the Mem. tracheosyringealis region; two pairs of intrinsic muscles ( M. vocalis ventralis and M. vocalis dorsalis ); and holorhine nares (see Feduccia 1973). According to Raposo et al. (2006), Paludicolaptes differs from other woodcreeper genera (except Xiphorhynchus , Campylorhamphus and Lepidocolaptes ) by details of the syringeal elements. Paludicolaptes presents well-marked A elements in the tracheosyringeal membrane, also different from Hylexetastes , Drymornis and Xiphocolaptes where the elements are almost invisible; in Dendrocincla , the B4 element has a larger diameter in relation to B1, B2 and B3, which have identical sizes; Hylexetastes has the A2 element greatly developed and A3 almost absent, which modifications are not observed in Paludicolaptes . From Nasica , Paludicolaptes differs immediately by the number of T elements (vide Raposo et al. 2006)— 12 in Nasica and six in Paludicolaptes . From Deconychura , Certhiasomus and Sittasomus , Paludicolaptes differs in the number of visible elements in the Membrana trachealis, five in those genera and six in Paludicolaptes . Paludicolaptes also differs from Sittasomus and Glyphorynchus by the proportions of the A elements sited caudally on the Membrana trachealis. Paludicolaptes differs from Dendrocolaptes by the extremely large “horns” of the Processi vocales in the latter. The species are further characterized by their habitat choice, shunning the interior of humid forests, in favour of deciduous types, including mangrove and desert formations, where they breed in cacti. Coastal populations inhabit islands in river deltas and mangrove, and, where associated with forested environments, they clearly prefer borders and gallery forests.

Phylogeny: Monophyly of the genus Paludicolaptes is corroborated by the molecular phylogeny recovered by Aleixo (2002) which placed it as sister group to that comprising the genera Campylorhamphus and Lepidocolaptes (see Aleixo 2002).

Etymology: L. paludicola, “marsh-dweller” <palus, paludis, “swamp”; cola, “dweller” <colere “to inhabit”; Gr. Koλαπτης, kolaptēs, “chiseller” <κoλαπτω, kolaptō, “to chisel, to peck, to strike”. This nomen points to the ability of the species P. picus and, especially, of its type species P. kienerii , to occupy water-associated habitats, like igapós. Paludicolaptes picus is also commonly present in mangroves and gallery forests.

Grammatical gender: Masculine.

Species included: Based on our taxonomic analysis, Paludicolaptes contains at least three species, those already widely considered valid, namely Paludicolaptes picus (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) and Paludicolaptes kienerii (Des Murs, 1855) , as well as Paludicolaptes picirostris (Lafresnaye, 1847) . Although the last species has been considered a subspecies in virtually all of the literature and species lists since Peters (1951), no formal revision has justified this treatment. A more comprehensive review points to its validity as a species (Raposo et al. in prep.).