Re‐evaluation of Agyrtria brevirostris Lesson (Aves, Trochilidae), with notes on its taxonomic status and relationships to A. chionopectus Gould and A. versicolor Vieillot

Considering recent taxonomic uncertainties about the status of the trochilid taxon Agyrtria brevirostris (Lesson, 1829), this paper addresses the question of whether this is an earlier name for the White-chested Emerald A. chionopectus (Gould, 1859) or a synonym for the Versicolored Emerald A. versicolor (Vieillot, 1818). For this reason, Lesson's original description of A. brevirostris is analysed and compared with morphological and biogeographic traits of both these species. Altogether we found evidence that the characters attributed to A. brevirostris are more similar to A. chionopectus than to A. versicolor. As a taxonomical consequence, it is suggested that A. brevirostris be considered the valid taxon name for the White-chested Emerald, which has priority over Gould's chionopectus. For biogeographic reasons we conclude that A. brevirostris and A. versicolor are members of the same superspecies. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)