Completing a taxonomic puzzle: integrative review of geckos of the Paroedura bastardi species complex (Squamata, Gekkonidae)

Abstract

The Paroedura bastardi clade, a subgroup of the Madagascan gecko genus Paroedura, currently comprises four nominal species: P. bastardi, supposedly widely distributed in southern and western Madagascar, P. ibityensis, a montane endemic, and P. tanjaka and P. neglecta, both restricted to the central west region of the island. Previous work has shown that Paroedura bastardi is a species complex with several strongly divergent mitochondrial lineages. Based on one mitochondrial and two nuclear markers, plus detailed morphological data, we undertake an integrative revision of this species complex. Using a representative sampling for seven nuclear and five mitochondrial genes we furthermore propose a phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships among the species in this clade. Our analyses reveal at least three distinct and independent evolutionary lineages currently referred to P. bastardi. Conclusive evidence for the species status of these lineages comes from multiple cases of syntopic occurrence without genetic admixture or morphological intermediates, suggesting reproductive isolation. We discuss the relevance of this line of evidence and the conditions under which concordant differentiation in unlinked loci under sympatry provides a powerful approach to species delimitation, and taxonomically implement our findings by (1) designating a lectotype for Paroedura bastardi, now restricted to the extreme South-East of Madagascar, (2) resurrecting of the binomen Paroedura guibeae Dixon & Kroll, 1974, which is applied to the species predominantly distributed in the South-West, and (3) describing a third species, Paroedura rennerae sp. nov., which has the northernmost distribution within the species complex.

Uncovering the herpetological diversity of small forest fragments in south-eastern Madagascar (Haute Matsiatra)

“…mate-rial 6: Table S6). The collected samples are almost 100% identical to ZCMV 12790 (COI: MW311368), which is the only individual molecularly characterised for this taxon before our study (Miralles et al 2021).…”

“…Glaw and Vences ( 2007) report the presence of Boophis sp. Ca33 in the surveyed area at Cirque Namoly and Vieites et al (2009) states that this taxon was found to live in sympatry with B. microtympanum, an observation that might support the distinction of these taxa (sensu Miralles et al 2021), although the genetic differentiation at the 16S marker is below the standard threshold of 3% (Vieites et al 2009). The species was not abundant.…”

“…The description of this candidate species is currently in progress. The Paroedura bastardi (Mocquard, 1900) species complex has been recently revised (Miralles et al 2021). This work identified at least three evolutionary lineages within this species group.…”

“…bastardi Lineage D UCS Fig. 5G Individuals belonging to this lineage of the P. bastardi species complex were previously known only from Anja (Miralles et al 2021). We collected this taxon at Anja and Tsaranoro, in the western part of the Region (at ca.…”

An inordinate fondness for inconspicuous brown frogs: integration of phylogenomics, archival DNA analysis, morphology, and bioacoustics yields 24 new taxa in the subgenus Brygoomantis (genus Mantidactylus) from Madagascar

“…rationale for species delimitation the taxonomic procedure in this study followed the approach of Padial et al (2010) using integration by congruence, similar to what we have done in previous comprehensive revisions (e.g. Crottini et al 2015;Miralles et al 2021;rakotoarison et al 2017). We sought for two or more independent lines of evidence supporting the distinctness of lineages, to serve as evidence for their evolutionary independence and thus species status in the framework of the general lineage or evolutionary species concept (de Queiroz 1998(de Queiroz , 2007Mayden 1997).…”