Table 1 Univariate measurements of morphometrics of the Locustella mandelli complex and L. alishanensis

Culmen l from skull

14.40 ± 0.43(13.6–15.2; 30)

13.60 ± 0.43(12.7–14.1; 16)

15.14 ± 0.66(14.1–16.2; 10)

14.10 ± 1.13 (13.3–14.9; 2)

14.38 ± 0.52(13.6–15.1; 6)

14.60 ± 0.28(14.4–14.8; 2)

15.21 ± 0.79(13.1–16.9; 39)

***

***

***

Culmen length from skull (P.A./P.J.L.)

13.3(12.7–14; 5)

14.7(13.5–15.6; 13)

Culmen length from feathers

10.74 ± 0.41(9.9–11.6; 30)

10.14 ± 0.43(9.3–10.8; 16)

11.09 ± 0.63(10.3–12.2; 11)

10.45 ± 0.92(9.8–11.1; 2)

10.05 ± 0.52(9.1–10.6; 6)

10.75 ± 0.07(10.7–10.8; 2)

11.26 ± 0.69(10.0–12.9; 40)

**

*

***

Bill depth from distal nostrils

3.07 ± 0.16(2.7–3.4; 32)

3.04 ± 0.13(2.7–3.2; 18)

3.14 ± 0.20(2.8–3.5; 12)

3.10 ± 0.14 (3.0–3.2; 2)

2.95 ± 0.19(2.7–3.2; 6)

3.20 ± 0.0(3.2; 2)

3.31 ± 0.21(2.9–3.6; 38)

***

Bill depth from distal nostrils (P.A./P.J.L.)

3.0(3.0; 3)

3.1(2.8–3.3; 7)

Bill width from distal nostrils

2.76 ± 0.18(2.4–3.2; 33)

2.67 ± 0.22(2.3–3.0; 18)

2.95 ± 0.22(2.6–3.4; 11)

2.9 ± 0.0(3)

2.53 ± 0.14(2.3–2.7; 6)

2.65 ± 0.35(2.4–2.9; 2)

2.93 ± 0.21(2.4–3.5; 41)

***

Bill width from distal nostrils (P.A./P.J.L.)

3.0(2.9–3.1; 2)

Wing length (flattened)

52.54 ± 2.36(49.0–57.0; 33)

50.30 ± 1.07(48.0–52.0; 17)

55.23 ± 1.31(53.0–58.0; 11)

51.33 ± 1.16(50.0–52.0; 3)

54.75 ± 1.54(53.0–57.5; 6)

53.50 ± 0.71(53.0–54.0; 2)

53.81 ± 1.82(49.5–57.0; 42)

***

**

***

***

Wing length (P.A./P.J.L.)

51.5(49–55; 5)

56.07(53.0–57.5; 13)

P1 shortfall

23.63 ± 1.63(20.7–28.4; 30)

22.36 ± 1.12(21.0–25.1; 18)

25.06 ± 1.61(22.8–27.9; 11)

22.67 ± 1.17(21.8–24.0; 3)

24.45 ± 1.19(22.8–26.0; 6)

24.95 ± 0.50(24.6–25.3; 2)

24.33 ± 1.59(20.0–28.0; 41)

**

*

P2 shortfall

8.97 ± 1.11(7.0–10.9; 29)

9.02 ± 1.11(6.5–11.3; 18)

8.97 ± 1.90(6.0–13.7; 11)

8.90 ± 1.01(8.0–10.0; 3)

9.63 ± 0.44(9.1–10.3; 6)

10.65 ± 1.49(9.6–11.7; 2)

10.58 ± 1.19(8.0–13.2; 41)

***

P3 shortfall

2.11 ± 0.84(0–3.6; 28)

2.14 ± 0.55(1.0–3.1; 18)

1.60 ± 0.37(1.0–2.0; 9)

1.27 ± 1.10(0–2.0; 3)

2.55 ± 0.75(1.6–3.3; 6)

1.75 ± 1.06(1.0–2.5; 2)

2.61 ± 0.80(1.0–4.0; 41)

***

P4 shortfall

0.49 ± 0.60(0–1.7; 29)

0.37 ± 0.44(0–1.0; 18)

0.00 ± 0.00(0; 9)

0.17 ± 0.29(0–0.5; 3)

1.05 ± 0.84(0–1.8; 6)

0.35 ± 0.21(0.20–0.50; 2)

0.46 ± 0.59(0–2.0; 40)

P5 shortfall

0.03 ± 0.19(0–1.0; 29)

0.08 ± 0.26(0–1.0; 18)

0.11 ± 0.22(0–0.5; 9)

0 ± 0(3)

0.18 ± 0.30(0–0.7; 6)

0 ± 0(2)

0 ± 0(40)

P1 length

14.16 ± 1.30(11.3–16.1; 30)

14.38 ± 1.09(13.1–16.4; 18)

15.76 ± 1.67(12.9–19.0; 11)

14.10 ± 0.17(14.0–14.3; 3)

14.47 ± 1.53(12.4–16.8; 6)

13.90 ± 1.27(13.0–14.8; 2)

15.20 ± 1.20(14.0–16.4; 3)

P2 length

28.31 ± 1.52(25.9–32.2; 27)

27.35 ± 1.72(24.4–29.9; 16)

31.88 ± 2.47(29.0–37.1; 9)

27.90 ± 0.95(26.9–28.8; 3)

28.63 ± 1.41(26.7–30.8; 6)

27.90 ± 0.99(27.2–28.6; 2)

30.10 ± 0.36(29.7–30.4; 3)

**

***

Primary projection

6.88 ± 0.96(4.9–8.9; 27)

6.58 ± 1.36(4.1–8.2; 12)

8.10 ± 1.58(5.3–10.2; 9)

4.95 ± 0.07 (4.9–5.0; 2)

5.42 ± 0.71(4.4–6.0; 4)

5.90 ± 1.27(5.0–6.8; 2)

6.90 ± 1.81(5.0–8.6; 3)

Tarsus length

19.00 ± 0.96(16.7–21.3; 34)

18.63 ± 0.77(17.0–20.1; 18)

18.30 ± 0.77(16.8–19.8; 11)

18.75 ± 0.65(18.1–19.4; 3)

19.53 ± 0.72(18.4–20.6; 6)

19.50 ± 0.14(19.4–19.6; 2)

20.72 ± 0.67(19.2–22.5; 41)

***

***

Tarsus length(P.A./P.J.L.)

17.3(16.6–17.7; 3)

18.3(17.5–19.4; 13)

Tarsus proximal depth

2.38 ± 0.21(1.8–2.7; 33)

2.28 ± 0.22(1.7–2.5; 16)

2.43 ± 0.14(2.2–2.7; 9)

2.33 ± 0.23(2.2–2.6; 3)

2.58 ± 0.23(2.4–3.0; 6)

2.70 ± 0.0(2)

2.86 ± 0.17(2.6–3.3; 40)

***

***

Tarsus distal width

2.56 ± 0.15(2.3–3.0; 32)

2.48 ± 0.15(2.2–2.7; 17)

2.54 ± 0.07(2.5–2.6; 9)

2.53 ± 0.32(2.3–2.9; 3)

2.75 ± 0.15(2.5–2.9; 6)

2.85 ± 0.07(2.8–2.9; 2)

2.91 ± 0.12(2.6–3.2; 41)

***

***

Tarsus minimum width

1.10 ± 0.08(1.0–1.3; 31)

1.04 ± 0.07(0.9–1.2; 15)

1.08 ± 0.07(1.0–1.2; 9)

1.13 ± 0.58(1.10–1.20; 3)

1.08 ± 0.08(1.0–1.2; 6)

1.20 ± 0.0(1.2; 2)

1.12 ± 0.07(1.0–1.2; 41)

Tarsus minimum depth

1.76 ± 0.16(1.4–2.1; 30)

1.67 ± 0.12(1.4–1.8; 15)

1.81 ± 0.13(1.6–2.0; 9)

1.83 ± 0.12(1.7–1.9; 3)

1.82 ± 0.15(1.7–2.0; 6)

1.80 ± 0.14(1.7–1.9; 2)

1.90 ± 0.13(1.7–2.1; 41)

***

Middle claw length

3.90 ± 0.32(3.1–4.7; 32)

3.76 ± 0.29(3.0–4.2; 17)

4.01 ± 0.19(3.7–4.3; 9)

4.30 ± 0.40(3.9–4.7; 3)

4.15 ± 0.16(3.9–4.4; 6)

4.05 ± 0.07(4.0–4.1; 2)

4.27 ± 0.26(3.6–4.7; 38)

***

Hindclaw length

6.22 ± 0.40(5.4–6.9; 31)

5.88 ± 0.37(5.2–6.6; 14)

6.09 ± 0.25(5.8–6.5; 11)

5.73 ± 0.70(5.0–6.4; 3)

6.65 ± 0.22(6.3–6.9; 6)

6.45 ± 0.64(6.0–6.9; 2)

6.42 ± 0.39(5.4–7.2; 41)

*

Hindclaw length (P.A./P.J.L.)

5.6(5.3–6.0; 6)

6.0(5.5–6.4; 9)

Tail length

59.13 ± 3.16(52.8–65.2; 29)

57.01 ± 1.88(52.1–59.7; 16)

52.06 ± 3.90(46.7–56.9; 11)

60.10 ± 2.83(58.1–62.1; 2)

60.06 ± 2.08(57.3–62.5; 5)

64.3 ± 2.0(62.9–65.7; 2)

59.36 ± 3.36(53.2–65.9; 41)

**

*

***

Tail length (P.A./P.J.L.)

59.8(57–67; 5)

55.9(52–58; 11)

Central rectrix width

10.45 ± 0.86(8.0–12.0; 28)

10.28 ± 0.79(8.8–11.7; 16)

9.22 ± 0.80(8.1–10.5; 9)

10.13 ± 1.17(8.8–11.0; 3)

10.88 ± 0.84(9.7–11.6; 5)

10.45 ± 0.07(10.4–10.5; 2)

12.38 ± 0.88(11.0–14.0; 40)

*

***

***

Undertail coverts length from pygostyle

31.15 ± 5.00(21.0–38.5; 26)

27.21 ± 3.85(21.4–33.5; 16)

28.66 ± 2.93(24.6–33.2; 8)

28.65 ± 3.61(26.1–31.2; 3)

28.53 ± 2.41(24.0–30.3; 6)

28.40 ± 2.12(26.9–29.9; 2)

26.58 ± 3.62(18.0–32.0; 37)

*

*

Undertail coverts to tail tip

31.28 ± 5.29(21.0–38.5; 23)

32.32 ± 3.80(24.0–43.0; 17)

25.51 ± 2.86(19.7–28.2; 10)

33.4 ± 3.68 (30.8–36.0; 2)

35.16 ± 4.58(31.6–42.4; 5)

37.90 ± 4.53(34.7–41.1; 2)

34.70 ± 3.73(28.0–42.0; 38)

**

***

***

Maximum pale tip width

3.00 ± 0.74(1.8–4.6; 30)

2.69 ± 0.41(2.1–3.7; 13)

3.44 ± 1.23(2.1–5.6; 10)

2.67 ± 0.68(1.9–3.2; 3)

2.92 ± 0.34(2.5–3.5; 6)

2.20 ± 0.28(2.0–2.4; 2)

2.40 ± 0.52(1.4–3.5; 35)

*

Wing/tail ratio

0.91 ± 0.08(0.78–1.09; 28)

0.88 ± 0.04(0.84–0.97; 17)

1.06 ± 0.08(0.97–1.18; 11)

0.85 ± 0.02(0.84–0.86; 2)

0.90 ± 0.04(0.86–0.96; 5)

0.83 ± 0.04(0.81–0.86; 2)

0.91 ± 0.05(0.82–1.03; 41)

***

***

***

Culmen/tail ratio

0.24 ± 0.01(0.22–0.27; 23)

0.24 ± 0.01(0.23–0.28; 15)

0.29 ± 0.02(0.26–0.32; 10)

0.21 (1)

0.24 ± 0.01 (0.22–0.25; 5)

0.23 ± 0.01(0.22–0.24; 2)

0.26 ± 0.02 (0.22–0.30; 38)

***

***

**

**

Tail l/c rectrix w ratio

5.64 ± 0.29(5.12–6.19; 26)

5.50 ± 0.28(5.05–5.95; 16)

5.60 ± 0.46(5.07–6.62; 9)

5.56 ± 0.12(5.48–5.65; 2)

5.54 ± 0.38 (5.06–5.96; 5)

6.15 ± 0.15(6.05–6.26; 2)

4.83 ± 0.41 (3.81–5.88; 40)

***

*

(Wing + culmen)/tail

1.13 ± 0.07(1.00–1.33; 23)

1.13 ± 0.05(1.08–1.23; 15)

1.34 ± 0.08(1.23–1.48; 10)

1.05 (1)

1.14 ± 0.05(1.10–1.21; 5)

1.06 ± 0.05(1.03–1.09; 2)

1.17 ± 0.06(1.06–1.33; 38)

***

***

Lower mandible color

5.5 ± 2.3(2–10; 26)

6.8 ± 2.3(2–10; 11)

7.8 ± 1.6(5–9; 8)

5.3 ± 2.5(3–8; 3)

5.0 ± 1.8(3–7; 4)

3.5 ± 0.7(3–4; 2)

5.4 ± 1.8(1–8; 41)

*

**

Upperparts color

8.0 ± 1.3(3–9; 27)

7.9 ± 1.0(6–9; 12)

3.9 ± 2.9(1–10; 8)

2.3 ± 2.3(1–5; 3)

4.8 ± 0.5(4–5; 4)

5 ± 0.0(2)

8.9 ± 0.3(8–9; 42)

**

**

***

***

Supercilium prominence

5.0 ± 1.0(3–7; 26)

3.8 ± 1.1(3–6; 12)

3.5 ± 0.8(3–5; 6)

8.7 ± 0.6(8–9; 3)

3.3 ± 0.5(3–4; 4)

4.5 ± 0.7(4–5; 2)

2.8 ± 0.8(1–5; 42)

**

*

***

Throat ground color

2.8 ± 0.8(1–4; 27)

3.1 ± 0.7(2–4; 12)

3.0 ± 0.8(2–4; 7)

1 ± 0.0(3)

2.3 ± 0.5(2–3; 4)

2.5 ± 0.7(2–3; 2)

2.8 ± 1.4(1–8; 42)

Throat speckles

2.8 ± 1.5(1–9; 27)

2.3 ± 2.5(1–9; 12)

3.0 ± 0.9(2–4; 8)

2.7 ± 1.2(2–4; 3)

3.8 ± 2.5(1–7; 4)

4.0 ± 1.4(3–5; 2)

5.9 ± 2.2(2–9; 42)

**

***

***

Breast ground color

4.2 ± 2.6(1–9; 27)

2.4 ± 2.5(1–9; 12)

5.9 ± 1.8(4–9; 8)

7.3 ± 3.6(4–10; 3)

3 ± 0.0(4)

4.5 ± 2.1(3–6; 2)

3.4 ± 2.2(1–9; 42)

*

**

**

Breast speckling

2.7 ± 1.5(1–6; 27)

1.7 ± 1.0(0–4; 12)

3.4 ± 1.2(2–5; 8)

2.3 ± 0.6(2–3; 3)

1.8 ± 0.5(1–2; 4)

4.5 ± 2.2(3–6; 2)

7.0 ± 2.1(2–9; 42)

*

**

***

***

Upper flank markings

1 ± 0(23)

1.3 ± 0.50(1–2; 4)

1.0 ± 0(8)

1 ± 0.0(3)

1 ± 0.0(4)

1 ± 0.0(2)

4.9 ± 1.8(1–8; 39)

***

***

Flank color

4.1 ± 1.9(2–8; 27)

4.7 ± 1.5(2–6; 12)

4.0 ± 2.4(2–9; 8)

2.3 ± 0.6(2–3; 3)

2.5 ± 0.6(2–3; 4)

2.5 ± 0.7(2–3; 2)

5.6 ± 1.8(2–9; 42)

**

*

Undertail coverts color

4.5 ± 1.5(2–8; 26)

5.5 ± 1.7(2–8; 12)

4.0 ± 2.4(1–7; 7)

1.7 ± 0.6(1–2; 3)

1.8 ± 0.5(1–2; 4)

2.5 ± 0.7(2–3; 2)

8.4 ± 1.0(5–9; 39)

*

***

***

Undertail covert tip contrast

5.4 ± 1.0(4–7; 25)

5.8 ± 1.0(4–7; 12)

6.1 ± 1.1(5–8; 7)

5.0 ± 1.7(3–10; 3)

4.0 ± 0.8(3–5; 4)

4.0 ± 1.4(3–5; 2)

6.4 ± 1.8(2–8; 38)

***

Undertail covert tip breadth

6.4 ± 0.9(5–8; 25)

6.1 ± 1.3(5.0–9.0; 12)

6.9 ± 1.6(5–9; 7)

6.7 ± 3.5(3–10; 3)

7.5 ± 1.3(6–9; 4)

3 ± 0.0(2)

5.4 ± 1.9(2–8; 38)

Leg color

2.2 ± 1.2(1–6; 26)

3.8 ± 2.0(1–7; 12)

2.6 ± 1.1(1–4; 7)

1.7 ± 0.6(1–2; 3)

1.8 ± 1.0(1–3; 4)

1 ± 0.0(2)

5.5 ± 1.7(2–9; 40)

*

***

***