Discordance between morphology and genetic structure among three plumage forms of the Australian Magpie

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The present study examined the extent of gene flow and population genetic structure among the highly sexually dimorphic form of the Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis) which is restricted to the south-western corner of the continent, and neighbouring plumage forms in north-western and eastern Australia. A phylogenetic break in the mtDNA haplotype phylogeny was evident between all western and all eastern plumage forms. The inference is that dispersal between eastern and western Australia is limited by large areas of unfavourable habitat, which isolate the two plumage forms. In contrast, there is no evidence of historic genetic structure among plumage forms in Western Australia and so their distributions are not explained by historical isolation and
These are the shocking scenes when two wild stallions battled each other for the right to breed with a group of females in Colorado.

The stallions square off with each other before rearing onto their hind legs and lashing out with 'punches'.

The black horse manages to leap higher than his opponent, allowing him to score better blows against his opponent.

This is the moment that two stallions face off with each other for the right to breed with several nearby females

Colorado aerospace engineer Duane Johnson headed well off the beaten track to find some horses he wanted to photograph

The two stallions reared up on their hind legs to face each other during the furious contest in Colorado

The grey stallion then lands awkwardly as a white female looks on.

The photographs were