Systematics of spiny‐backed treefrogs (Hylidae: Osteocephalus): an Amazonian puzzle. (16th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jungfer, Karl‐Heinz; Faivovich, Julián; Padial, José M.; Castroviejo‐Fisher, Santiago; Lyra, Mariana M.; V. M., Bianca; Iglesias, Patricia P.; Kok, Philippe J. R.; MacCulloch, Ross D.; Rodrigues, Miguel T.; Verdade, Vanessa K.; Torres Gastello, Claudia P.; Chaparro, Juan Carlos; Valdujo, Paula H.; Reichle, Steffen; Moravec, Jiří; Gvoždík, Václav; Gagliardi‐Urrutia, Giussepe; Ernst, Raffael; De la, Ignacio; Means, Donald Bruce; Lima, Albertina P.; Señaris, J. Celsa; Wheeler, Ward C.; F. B., Célio
• Is Part Of: Zoologica scripta. Volume 42:Number 4(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 351
• Page End: 380
• Publication Date: 2013-05-16
• Subjects: Zoology -- Periodicals; 590.5
• DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-3256

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="zsc12015-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Spiny‐backed tree frogs of the genus <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> are conspicuous components of the tropical wet forests of the Amazon and the Guiana Shield. Here, we revise the phylogenetic relationships of <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> and its sister group <italic>Tepuihyla</italic>, using up to 6134 bp of DNA sequences of nine mitochondrial and one nuclear gene for 338 specimens from eight countries and 218 localities, representing 89% of the 28 currently recognized nominal species. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal (i) the paraphyly of <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> with respect to <italic>Tepuihyla</italic>, (ii) the placement of '<italic>Hyla' warreni</italic> as sister to <italic>Tepuihyla</italic>, (iii) the non‐monophyly of several currently recognized species within <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> and (iv) the presence of low (<1%) and overlapping genetic distances among phenotypically well‐characterized nominal species (e.g. <italic>O. taurinus</italic> and <italic>O. oophagus</italic>) for the 16S gene fragment used in amphibian DNA barcoding. We propose a new taxonomy, securing the monophyly of <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> and <italic>Tepuihyla</italic> by rearranging and redefining the content of both genera and also erect a new genus for the sister group of <italic>Osteocephalus</italic>. The colouration of newly metamorphosed individuals is proposed as a morphological synapomorphy for <italic>Osteocephalus</italic>. We recognize and define five monophyletic species groups within <italic>Osteocephalus</italic>, synonymize three species of <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> (<italic>O. germani</italic>, <italic> O. phasmatus and O. vilmae</italic>) and three species of <italic>Tepuihyla</italic> (<italic>T. celsae</italic>, <italic> T. galani and T. talbergae</italic>) and reallocate three species (<italic>Hyla helenae</italic> to <italic>Osteocephalus</italic>, <italic> O. exophthalmus</italic> to <italic>Tepuihyla</italic> and <italic>O. pearsoni</italic> to <italic>Dryaderces</italic> gen. n.). Furthermore, we flag nine putative new species (an increase to 138% of the current diversity). We conclude that species numbers are largely underestimated, with most hidden diversity centred on widespread and polymorphic nominal species. The evolutionary origin of breeding strategies within <italic>Osteocephalus</italic> is discussed in the light of this new phylogenetic hypothesis, and a novel type of amplexus (gular amplexus) is described.</p> </abstract>