Parus

1. Parus [c.] teneriffae

The strictly allopatric Blue (P 10) and Ultramarine (P 9) Tits — Haffer (in Glutz v. Blotzheim and Bauer 1993: Vol. 13, 581) already inferred species distinctiveness, with reference to Taberlet — were separated at species level by Salzburger et al. (2002b). On p. 23 they write: “The average genetic distance between African and European Blue Tits was 4.9 %, but distances were remarkably small between the European Blue Tits and all analyzed subspecies of the Azure Tit (1.6–1.9 %).” Regarding vocalization, as well, the Blue and Ultramarine Tits are more distinctly differentiated than the Blue and Azure Tits! The Ultramarine Tits, within their tiny area, exhibit greater differentiations than do the widely distributed Blue Tits, i.e. the typical “island effect”, with respect to coloration, proportions and also their voices (Becker et al. 1980; Eck 1988: 120, 124 Fig. 9; Schottler 1993a, b, 1995; Schottler & Martens 1991, 1992).

P. teneriffae palmensis MEADO­WALDO, 1889 [Palma, W Canaries]; P. teneriffae ombriosus MEADE­WALDO, 1890 [Hierro, W Canaries]; P. teneriffae teneriffae LESSON, 1831 [Tenerife, Canaries]; P. teneriffae degener HARTERT, 1901 [Lanzarote and Fuerteventura]; P. teneriffae ultramarinus BONAPARTE, 1841 [Sfax, Tunisia]; P. teneriffae cyrenaicae HARTERT, 1922 [juniper forest near Merg, Libya].

The population groups: P 8 palmensis; La Palma (W Canaries). — Fig. Quinn: Plate 29:

92e.

* Cap blue­black, unlike P 9 dark blue­grey back (also with green), white belly. — Relatively long­tailed, average 85 %, vocally clearly differentiated (cf. Schottler 1993a: 210).

P 9 teneriffae, ombriosus, degener, ultramarinus, cyrenaicae; Canaries without La Palma,

NW

Africa. — Fig. Quinn: Plate 29: 92f–i, in part.

* There are differences in intensity of dorsal coloration and relative tail length (see Eck 1988: 125). Differences in the wing length of all Ultramarine Tits have been compiled by Eck 1988: 126, Fig. 12. Within a given P the differences are considerable.