Determining levels of cryptic diversity within the endemic frog genera, Indirana and Walkerana, of the Western Ghats, India.

ABSTRACT: A large number of species in the tropics are awaiting discovery, many due to their cryptic morphology ie. lack of discernable morphological difference. We explored the presence of cryptic lineages within the frog genera, Indirana and Walkerana, which are endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. By reconstructing a phylogeny using 5 genes and robust geographic sampling, we delimited 19 lineages along a population-species continuum, using multiple criteria including haplotype clusters, genetic distance, morphological distinctness, and geographical separation. Of these 19 lineages, 14 belonged to the genus Indirana and 5 to the genus Walkerana. Divergence dating analyses revealed that the clade comprising Indirana and Walkerana began diversifying around 71 mya and the most recent com

SUBMITTER: Ramesh V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7467320 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature