Diversification of the rainfrog Pristimantis ornatissimus in the lowlands and Andean foothills of Ecuador.

ABSTRACT: Geographic barriers and elevational gradients have long been recognized as important in species diversification. Here, we illustrate an example where both mechanisms have shaped the genetic structure of the Neotropical rainfrog, Pristimantis ornatissimus, which has also resulted in speciation. This species was thought to be a single evolutionary lineage distributed throughout the Ecuadorian Chocó and the adjacent foothills of the Andes. Based on recent sampling of P. ornatissimus sensu lato, we provide molecular and morphological evidence that support the validity of a new species, which we name Pristimantis ecuadorensis sp. nov. The sister species are elevational replacements of each other; the distribution of Pristimantis ornatissimus sensu stricto is limited to the Ecuadorian Chocó ecor

SUBMITTER: Guayasamin JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5362048 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature