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We present a phylogeny of all booted eagles (38 extant and one extinct
species) based on analysis of published sequences from seven loci. We find
molecular support for five major clades within the booted eagles: Nisaetus
(10 species), Spizaetus (4 species), Clanga (3 species), Hieraaetus (6
species) and Aquila (11 species), requiring generic changes for 14 taxa.
Additionally, we recommend that the Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus
occipitalis) and the Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) remain in their
monotypic genera, due to their distinctive morphology. We apply the
recently resurrected genus Clanga for the spotted eagles (previously
Aquila spp.) to resolve the paraphyly of the genus Aquila such that the
clade including the Booted Eagle (H. pennatus), Little Eagle (H.
morphnoides), Pygmy Eagle (H. weiskei), Ayres’s Eagle (H. ayresii) and
Wahlberg’s Eagle (H. wahlbergi) can remain in the genus Hieraaetus. The
Rufous-bellied Eagle should be retained in the genus Lophotriorchis. For
consistency in English names, we recommend that the term “hawk-eagles” be
used only for the species in the genera Nisaetus and Spizaetus. We suggest
following new or modified English names: Cassin’s Eagle (Aquila africana),
Bonaparte’s Eagle (A. spilogaster), Ayres’s Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii),
and Black-and-chestnut Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus isidori).
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