What primary factors justified the taxonomic refinement recognizing the Sunda zebra finch as distinct from the Australian zebra finch around 2016?

Answer

Differences in plumage, genetic divergence in mtDNA, and mate selection patterns

The modern division of the genus *Taeniopygia* into two distinct species was not arbitrary but rooted in observable scientific evidence gathered over time. The refinement, formalized around 2016, officially acknowledged that the island populations (*T. guttata*) constituted a lineage separate from their mainland Australian relatives (*T. castanotis*). The key evidence supporting this separation included observed differences in their physical appearance, specifically their plumage. Crucially, genetic analysis showed divergence in their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Additionally, behavioral observations in captive settings revealed distinct patterns in how the two populations selected their mates, solidifying the need for distinct species classification.

What primary factors justified the taxonomic refinement recognizing the Sunda zebra finch as distinct from the Australian zebra finch around 2016?

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locationZebra Finch