Sombre Tit
Encyclopedia
The Sombre Tit is a member of the tit family found in southeast Europe
and southwest Asia
.
Though it is traditionally placed in Parus, mtDNA cytochrome b
sequence
data suggests that that genus
should be split, as already adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union
, for example. This species is part of the chickadee group, which would then make up the genus Poecile. In Poecile, this species forms part of a group of apparently rather basal
species, the relationships of which are ill-defined. They also include the Varied
and probably the White-fronted Tit
(which were sometimes separated in Sittiparus), and possibly the White-browed
and Caspian Tit
s.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and southwest Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Though it is traditionally placed in Parus, mtDNA cytochrome b
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...
sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
data suggests that that genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
should be split, as already adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
, for example. This species is part of the chickadee group, which would then make up the genus Poecile. In Poecile, this species forms part of a group of apparently rather basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
species, the relationships of which are ill-defined. They also include the Varied
Varied Tit
The Varied Tit is a perching bird from the tit family, Paridae. It occurs in eastern Asia in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and locally in northeastern China and extreme southeastern Russia .- Description :It is 12–14 cm long and weighs 16–18 g. The wing length is 6.0–7.8 cm. In the nominate race P. v...
and probably the White-fronted Tit
White-fronted Tit
The White-fronted Tit is a species of bird in the Paridae family.It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(which were sometimes separated in Sittiparus), and possibly the White-browed
White-browed Tit
The White-browed Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae. It is endemic to the mountain forests of southwestern China ....
and Caspian Tit
Caspian Tit
The Caspian Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family. It is often lumped with Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris The Caspian Tit (Poecile hyrcanus, formerly Parus hyrcanus) is a passerine bird in the tit family. It is often lumped with Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris The Caspian Tit (Poecile hyrcanus,...
s.