Journal Article

Morphometric and genetic evidence for four species of gentoo penguin

Bonfitto, Matthew T., Younger, Jane L., Tyler, Joshua, Reddy, Sushma, Clucas, Gemma V.

2020

Overview

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are found across the Southern Ocean with a circumpolar distribution and notable genetic and morphological variation across their geographic range. Whether this geographic variation represents species‐level diversity has yet to be investigated in an integrative taxonomic framework. Here, we show that four distinct populations of gentoo penguins (Iles Kerguelen, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and South Shetlands/Western Antarctic Peninsula) are genetically and morphologically distinct from one another. We present here a revised taxonomic treatment including formal nomenclatural changes. We suggest the designation of four species of gentoo penguin: P. papua in the Falkland Islands, P. ellsworthi in the South Shetland Islands/Western Antarctic Peninsula, P. taeniata in Iles Kerguelen, and a new gentoo species P. poncetii, described herein, in South Georgia. These findings of cryptic diversity add to many other such findings across the avian tree of life in recent years. Our results further highlight the importance of reassessing species boundaries as methodological advances are made, particularly for taxa of conservation concern. We recommend reassessment by the IUCN of each species, particularly P. taeniata and P. poncetii, which both show evidence of decline. Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are found across the Southern Ocean with a circumpolar distribution and notable genetic and morphological variation across their geographic range. Here, we show that four distinct populations of gentoo penguins (Iles Kerguelen, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and South Shetlands/Western Antarctic Peninsula) are genetically and morphologically distinct from one another. We suggest the designation of four species of gentoo penguin: P. ellsworthi in the South Shetland Islands/Western Antarctic Peninsula, P. taeniata in Iles Kerguelen, and P. poncetii in South Georgia with the Falkland Islands retaining P. papua.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Antarctica / Biodiversity / Birds / Climate change / Genetic diversity / Genomics / Geographical variations / Hypotheses / integrative taxonomy / Islands / Morphology / new species / Nominations / Original Research / Ornithology / Phylogenetics / Population / Pygoscelis / Pygoscelis papua / Pygoscelis papua ellsworthi / Pygoscelis papua poncetii / Pygoscelis papua taeniata / Southern Ocean / Species diversity / Taxonomic revision / Taxonomy