On evolutionary phylogeny of genus Columba sp.

The taxonomy of the genus ‘Columba’ has been much debated since the early days when taxonomists classified the species of this genus based on morphology, ontology, and vocalizations. Here, apart from the issue of inter-generic relationships of genus Columba with other genera, the present study also takes into account the inter-specific relationships with the support of morphology, geographical proximity, plumage coloration, and patterns shaped by evolution, natural and sexual selection over millions of years. Artificial selection based on certain traits within the genus had been considered. Various representatives of genus Patagioenas, Reinwardtoena, Turacoena, Streptopelia, Alectroenas, and Leptotila were taken to construct the phylogenetic tree using mitochondrial sequences. With support of molecular analysis like distance-based methods and maximum likelihood trees, changes in the current taxonomic classification have been recommended with support of distances and comparisons where the two genera Turacoena and Reinwardtoena have been combined to genus Columba. Genus Aplopelia has been confirmed as a monotypic genus supported by both molecular and geometric morphometric analysis (GMA). Based on morpho-genetic variations along with inter-specific geographic range proximities and overlaps a new theory of independent evolutionary pattern between Eastern and Western species of the genus Columba has been formulated.