Notes on the appendicular myology of the Scarlet Finch Haematospiza sipahi (Fringillidae: Carduelinae)

Abstract

The appendicular myology of the Scarlet Finch Haematospiza sipahi was found to be primitive in all of the characters known to show variation within the subfamily Carduelinae (Fringillidae). It is the only species of cardueline known so far to exhibit this combination of myological characters, although taxon sampling is still inadequate. Haematospiza provides a reasonable model for the last common ancestor of the Hawaiian radiation of carduelines of the tribe Drepanidini.