To split or not to split? Multilocus phylogeny and molecular species delimitation of southeast Asian toads (family: Bufonidae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent studies have demonstrated that Bayesian species delimitation based on the multispecies coalescent model can produce inaccurate results by misinterpreting population splits as species divergences. An approach based on the genealogical divergence index (gdi) was shown to be a viable alternative, especially for delimiting allopatric populations where gene flow is low. We implemented these analyses to assess species boundaries in Southeast Asian toads, a group that is understudied and characterized by numerous unresolved species complexes.

Results

Multilocus phylogenetic analyses showed that deep evolutionary relationships including the genera Sigalegalephrynus, Ghatophryne, Parapelophryne, Leptophryne, Pseudobufo, Rentapia, and Phrynoides remain unresolved. Co

SUBMITTER: Chan KO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6485082 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature