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Gorin VA, Trofimets AV, Gogoleva SS, Dac LX, Poyarkov NA. A new species of Nanohyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from the lowland forests of southern Vietnam. Zool Res 2023; 44:732-736. [PMID: 37313850 PMCID: PMC10415765 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav A Gorin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Alexey V Trofimets
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Svetlana S Gogoleva
- Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre, Cau Giay, Hanoi 122000, Vietnam
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Le Xuan Dac
- Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre, Cau Giay, Hanoi 122000, Vietnam
| | - Nikolay A Poyarkov
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre, Cau Giay, Hanoi 122000, Vietnam. E-mail:
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Garg S, Sivaperuman C, Gokulakrishnan G, Chandramouli SR, Biju SD. Hiding in Plain Sight: Rain Water Puddles in Nicobar Islands of India Reveal Abundance of a New Frog Species of the Genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Microhylidae). Zool Stud 2022; 60:e2. [PMID: 35774264 PMCID: PMC9168734 DOI: 10.6620/zs.2022.61-02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies on frogs of the Microhyla heymonsi species complex have demonstrated that high genetic variation exists among its various known populations from regions across Asia. We assessed the taxonomic identity of the Nicobar population of Microhyla cf. heymonsi and compared it to the typical Microhyla heymonsi from Taiwan and the two recently described species in this complex from Vietnam. Our study demonstrates that the Nicobar population is both genetically and morphologically divergent and warrants recognition as a new species, which we formally describe here as Microhyla nakkavaram sp. nov. The new species is closely related to M. daklakensis, M. heymonsi, and M. ninhthuanensis, but diagnosable from all three species by a suite of morphological characters, such as the presence of two small tubercles at mid-dorsum along with ( )-shaped markings, length of finger I longer than half the length of finger II, presence of three distinct metacarpal tubercles on hand, rudimentary foot webbing, as well as its slender body shape, granular dorsal skin texture, and other colour characters and body markings. Statistical analyses based on multiple morphometric characters also clearly separate our new taxon from M. heymonsi, with which it was previously confused. Our phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA locus find Microhyla nakkavaram sp. nov. to be nested in the Microhyla achatina species group, where it is delimited as a distinct species. This lineage shows genetic distances of ≥ 3.5% from all the other known congeners. Currently, the known distribution of the new taxon is restricted to the southernmost group of Nicobar Islands-Great Nicobar, Kondul, and Little Nicobar-where it is found in abundance across a wide range of habitats during the monsoon season. Our study underlines the need to reassess the identity of all the known populations of M. 'heymonsi' from other regions in Southeast and East Asia. To facilitate future taxonomic work in the light of our and other recent findings, we also provide a detailed redescription and revised diagnosis for M. heymonsi based on morphological examination of its century-old type material originating from Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Garg
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India. E-mail: , (Biju); (Garg)
| | - Chandrakasan Sivaperuman
- Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair 744102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. E-mail: (Sivaperuman); (Gokulakrishnan)
| | - G Gokulakrishnan
- Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair 744102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. E-mail: (Sivaperuman); (Gokulakrishnan)
| | - S R Chandramouli
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India. E-mail: (Chandramouli)
| | - S D Biju
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India. E-mail: , (Biju); (Garg)
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Blotto BL, Biju SD, Pereyra MO, Araujo-Vieira K, Faivovich J, Grant T. Hand and foot musculature of Sooglossoidea: synapomorphies, convergences and hind limb digging behaviour in anurans. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
We describe the hand and foot musculature of the fossorial Indian purple frog, Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis, and compare it to other members of Sooglossoidea: the Seychellean sooglossid genera Sechellophryne and Sooglossus. Due to the key phylogenetic position of Sooglossoidea, we compare its members with the diversity of Anura and define 52 characters from the hand and foot musculature, among which 26 are novel hypotheses of homology. We found several synapomorphies for Sooglossus, Sooglossidae, Nasikabatrachidae and Sooglossoidea. Additionally, we (1) propose synapomorphies for diverse anuran clades at different taxonomic levels, (2) re-evaluate the identity of some conflicting plantar and palmar muscles in the context of Batrachia and (3) discuss putative adaptations to hind limb digging behaviour resulting from morphological convergences. The lack of a clear pattern of convergences among hind limb digging species suggests the occurrence of a phenomenon of many-to-one mapping from form to function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris L Blotto
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’–CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S D Biju
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Martín O Pereyra
- Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva ‘Claudio J. Bidau’, Instituto de Biología Subtropical–CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, N3300LQF Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Katyuscia Araujo-Vieira
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’–CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’–CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Taran Grant
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Coleção de Anfíbios, Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Suman Pratihar, Deuti K. Field identification characters to diagnose Microhyla mukhlesuri from closely related M. mymensinghensis (Amphibia: Microhylidae) and range extension of M. mukhlesuri up to West Bengal State, India. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2021. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.7384.13.12.19818-19823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Microhyla mymensinghensis and Microhyla mukhlesuri were recorded from West Bengal, also analyzed 12 characters to separate the species. We also hereby first time confirm the presence of Microhyla mukhlesuri from the main land in India
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Hoang CV, Nguyen TT, Ninh HT, Luong AM, Pham CT, Nguyen TQ, Orlov NL, Chen Y, Wang B, Ziegler T, Jiang J. Two new cryptic species of Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae) related to the M. heymonsi group from central Vietnam. Zookeys 2021; 1036:47-74. [PMID: 34017214 PMCID: PMC8116321 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1036.56919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Microhyla heymonsi species complex from central Vietnam was examined, and based upon morphological and molecular evidence, two new species are described. The discovery of Microhyla daklakensis sp. nov. and Microhyla ninhthuanensis sp. nov. brings the total number of known species in the genus to 46 and the species number of Microhyla in Vietnam to 13. The Truong Son Range harbors the highest diversity of the genus Microhyla with 11 recorded species so far. However, this apparent micro-endemic diversity is at risk because of habitat loss by deforestation, which highlights the necessity of further research leading to improved conservation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung Van Hoang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 810000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Forest Resources and Environment Center, 300 Ngoc Hoi Road, Thanh Tri, Hanoi, VietnamUniversity of CologneCologneGermany
| | - Tao Thien Nguyen
- Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Hanoi, VietnamForest Resources and Environment CenterHanoiVietnam
| | - Hoa Thi Ninh
- Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Hanoi, VietnamForest Resources and Environment CenterHanoiVietnam
| | - Anh Mai Luong
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Hanoi, VietnamVietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
| | - Cuong The Pham
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Hanoi, VietnamVietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
| | - Truong Quang Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Hanoi, VietnamVietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
| | - Nikolai L. Orlov
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab 1, St. Petersburg 199034, RussiaGraduate University of Science and TechnologyHanoiVietnam
| | - Youhua Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Bin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Thomas Ziegler
- AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Strasse 173, D-50735 Cologne, GermanyZoological Institute, Russian Academy of SciencesSt. PetersburgRussia
- Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, D-50674 Cologne, GermanyAG Zoologischer Garten KölnCologneGermany
| | - Jianping Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 810000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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Kundu S, Lalremsanga HT, Biakzuala L, Decemson H, Muansanga L, Tyagi K, Chandra K, Kumar V. Genetic diversity of the Pegu Rice Frog, Microhyla berdmorei (Anura: Microhylidae) based on mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2021; 6:1586-1591. [PMID: 34212080 PMCID: PMC8218842 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2021.1920504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pegu Rice Frog, Microhyla berdmorei is distributed across ten Asian countries. However, the DNA barcoding information (COI gene) is restricted to only Southeast Asian countries. Here, we sampled a specimen of M. berdmorei in Mizoram state, northeast India to allow the genetic diversity of the species across its range. We generated both COI and 16S ribosomal RNA sequences of the studied species to check the population genetic diversity. The Bayesian analyses clearly discriminate M. berdmorei from its sister species Microhyla pulchra. The present datasets of M. berdmorei also revealed 11 and 19 haplotypes with high uncorrected pairwise genetic distances in COI (3.8-11.8%) and 16S rRNA (0-4.6%) gene, respectively. Owing to the high intra-species genetic distances and different haplotypes with sufficient mutational steps in both mitochondrial genes, this study affirms the existence of M. berdmorei species complex or cryptic diversity within its range distribution in South and Southeast Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Kundu
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Lal Biakzuala
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Ht. Decemson
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Lal Muansanga
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - Kaomud Tyagi
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Kailash Chandra
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India
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Gorin VA, Scherz MD, Korost DV, Poyarkov NA. Consequences of parallel miniaturisation in Microhylinae (Anura, Microhylidae), with the description of a new genus of diminutive South East Asian frogs. ZOOSYST EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/zse.97.57968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 includes 52 species and is one of the most diverse genera of the family Microhylidae, being the most species-rich taxon of the Asian subfamily Microhylinae. The recent, rapid description of numerous new species of Microhyla with complex phylogenetic relationships has made the taxonomy of the group especially challenging. Several recent phylogenetic studies suggested paraphyly of Microhyla with respect to Glyphoglossus Günther, 1869, and revealed three major phylogenetic lineages of mid-Eocene origin within this assemblage. However, comprehensive works assessing morphological variation among and within these lineages are absent. In the present study we investigate the generic taxonomy of Microhyla–Glyphoglossus assemblage based on a new phylogeny including 57 species, comparative morphological analysis of skeletons from cleared-and-stained specimens for 23 species, and detailed descriptions of generalized osteology based on volume-rendered micro-CT scans for five species–altogether representing all major lineages within the group. The results confirm three highly divergent and well-supported clades that correspond with external and osteological morphological characteristics, as well as respective geographic distribution. Accordingly, acknowledging ancient divergence between these lineages and their significant morphological differentiation, we propose to consider these three lineages as distinct genera: Microhylasensu stricto, Glyphoglossus, and a newly described genus, Nanohylagen. nov.
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Gorin VA, Solovyeva EN, Hasan M, Okamiya H, Karunarathna DS, Pawangkhanant P, de Silva A, Juthong W, Milto KD, Nguyen LT, Suwannapoom C, Haas A, Bickford DP, Das I, Poyarkov NA. A little frog leaps a long way: compounded colonizations of the Indian Subcontinent discovered in the tiny Oriental frog genus Microhyla (Amphibia: Microhylidae). PeerJ 2020; 8:e9411. [PMID: 32685285 PMCID: PMC7337035 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Frogs of the genus Microhyla include some of the world's smallest amphibians and represent the largest radiation of Asian microhylids, currently encompassing 50 species, distributed across the Oriental biogeographic region. The genus Microhyla remains one of the taxonomically most challenging groups of Asian frogs and was found to be paraphyletic with respect to large-sized fossorial Glyphoglossus. In this study we present a time-calibrated phylogeny for frogs in the genus Microhyla, and discuss taxonomy, historical biogeography, and morphological evolution of these frogs. Our updated phylogeny of the genus with nearly complete taxon sampling includes 48 nominal Microhyla species and several undescribed candidate species. Phylogenetic analyses of 3,207 bp of combined mtDNA and nuDNA data recovered three well-supported groups: the Glyphoglossus clade, Southeast Asian Microhyla II clade (includes M. annectens species group), and a diverse Microhyla I clade including all other species. Within the largest major clade of Microhyla are seven well-supported subclades that we identify as the M. achatina, M. fissipes, M. berdmorei, M. superciliaris, M. ornata, M. butleri, and M. palmipes species groups. The phylogenetic position of 12 poorly known Microhyla species is clarified for the first time. These phylogenetic results, along with molecular clock and ancestral area analyses, show the Microhyla-Glyphoglossus assemblage to have originated in Southeast Asia in the middle Eocene just after the first hypothesized land connections between the Indian Plate and the Asian mainland. While Glyphoglossus and Microhyla II remained within their ancestral ranges, Microhyla I expanded its distribution generally east to west, colonizing and diversifying through the Cenozoic. The Indian Subcontinent was colonized by members of five Microhyla species groups independently, starting with the end Oligocene-early Miocene that coincides with an onset of seasonally dry climates in South Asia. Body size evolution modeling suggests that four groups of Microhyla have independently achieved extreme miniaturization with adult body size below 15 mm. Three of the five smallest Microhyla species are obligate phytotelm-breeders and we argue that their peculiar reproductive biology may be a factor involved in miniaturization. Body size increases in Microhyla-Glyphoglossus seem to be associated with a burrowing adaptation to seasonally dry habitats. Species delimitation analyses suggest a vast underestimation of species richness and diversity in Microhyla and reveal 15-33 undescribed species. We revalidate M. nepenthicola, synonymize M. pulverata with M. marmorata, and provide insights on taxonomic statuses of a number of poorly known species. Further integrative studies, combining evidence from phylogeny, morphology, advertisement calls, and behavior will result in a better systematic understanding of this morphologically cryptic radiation of Asian frogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav A. Gorin
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Mahmudul Hasan
- Department of Fisheries, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science & Technology University, Jamalpur, Bangladesh
| | - Hisanori Okamiya
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Anslem de Silva
- Amphibia and Reptile Research Organization of Sri Lanka, Gampola, Sri Lanka
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Haas
- Center for Natural History, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Nikolay A. Poyarkov
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Chen ZQ, Lin YF, Tang Y, Ding GH, Wu YQ, Lin ZH. Acoustic divergence in advertisement calls among three sympatric Microhyla species from East China. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8708. [PMID: 32201644 PMCID: PMC7071819 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Species-specific advertisement calls are the main mechanism of transmitting information between individuals in anuran amphibians and are therefore indispensable for anuran survival and reproduction. Survey methods that monitor these calls can be used for rapid species recognition, behavioral experiments, and conservation monitoring. In this study, we described in detail 10 call parameters from three sympatric species in the genus Microhyla and analyzed the differences in call parameter among these species to provide a basis for systematic monitoring, acoustic analysis and taxonomic study of this genus. Methods The quantitative analyses of temporal and spectral call parameters were used in our study for the advertisement calls of three sympatric Microhyla species (M. beilunensis, M. fissipes and M. heymonsi) in Zhejiang Province, East China. Results Our results showed the following: (1) Significant differences existed among the three sympatric Microhyla species in call duration (CD), call interval (CI), number of pulses (NP), pulse rate, call intensity (CIT), dominant frequency (DF) and frequency of the first to fourth formants (F1, F2, F3 and F4). (2) Some spectral parameters (DF, F1 and F3) were negatively correlated with the body size of the vocalizing individuals in each species. (3) The coefficients of variation within individuals (CVw) for CIT, DF and F1-F4 were smaller than 5%, whereas the CVW for CI was larger than 10% in each species. (4) The principal component analysis and discriminant function analysis showed that call parameters could distinguish the three Microhyla species. (5) The phylogenetic generalized least squares analysis showed that phylogenetic relationships affected CD and NP against snout-vent length (SVL), DF and NP against CD, and NP against DF, but not of DF against SVL; based on the phylogenetic analysis, CD and NP were not related to SVL, but DF was negatively related to SVL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Chen
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang, P.R. China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - You-Fu Lin
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang, P.R. China.,College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yun Tang
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang, P.R. China.,College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Hua Ding
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Qing Wu
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Hua Lin
- Laboratory of Amphibian Diversity Investigation, College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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Freitas ES, Miller AH, Reynolds RG, Siler CD. A taxonomic conundrum: Characterizing a cryptic radiation of Asian gracile skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Riopa) in Myanmar. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 146:106754. [PMID: 32028030 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Recognizing species-level diversity is important for studying evolutionary patterns across biological disciplines and is critical for conservation efforts. However, challenges remain in delimiting species-level diversity, especially in cryptic radiations where species are genetically divergent but show little morphological differentiation. Using multilocus molecular data, phylogenetic analyses, species delimitation analyses, and morphological data, we examine lineage diversification in a cryptic radiation of Riopa skinks in Myanmar. Four species of Riopa skinks are currently recognized from Myanmar based on morphological traits, but the boundaries between three of these species, R. anguina, R. lineolata, and R. popae, are not well-defined. We find high levels of genetic diversity within these three species. Our analyses suggest that they may comprise as many as 12 independently evolving lineages, highlighting the extent to which species diversity in the region is underestimated. However, quantitative trait data suggest that these lineages have not differentiated morphologically, possibly indicating that this cryptic radiation represents non-adaptive evolution, although additional data is needed to corroborate this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse S Freitas
- Department of Biology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA.
| | - Aryeh H Miller
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Asheville, Asheville, NC 28804, USA
| | - R Graham Reynolds
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Asheville, Asheville, NC 28804, USA
| | - Cameron D Siler
- Department of Biology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA
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