Unveiling the evolutionary relationships and the high cryptic diversity in Andean rainfrogs (Craugastoridae: Pristimantis myersi group).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pristimantis is the most diverse genus of terrestrial frogs. Historically, it has been divided into several phenetic groups in order to facilitate species identification. However, in light of phylogenetic analysis, many of these groups have been shown to be non-monophyletic, denoting a high degree of morphological convergence and limited number of diagnostic traits. In this study, we focus on the Pristimantis myersi group, an assemblage of small rainfrogs distributed throughout the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia, whose external morphology is highly conserved, and its species diversity and evolutionary relationships largely unknown.

Methods

We inferred a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the frog genus Pristimantis, including all available sequenc

SUBMITTER: Franco-Mena D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9985417 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature