DNA barcoding revises a misidentification on mossy frog: new record and distribution extension of Theloderma corticale Boulenger, 1903 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae)

Abstract

As an endangered animal group, mossy frog (genus Theloderma) has attracted the attention of biologists and wildlife conservationists. Clarifying the taxonomic status and distribution of each species in Theloderma is important to determine the conservation status for each species, establish appropriate conservation strategies and probe the speciation process. Recently, we discovered a medium-sized species of mossy frog of the genus Theloderma in April 2015 during municipal surveys of amphibians in Dayao Mountain of Jinxiu. It was collected from the water-filled tree cavities. However, there remains some uncertainty about the species determination of the mossy frog in the Yinshan station of Dayao Mountain in Guangxi Province, China. Previously, the mossy frog in Guangxi Province was recognized as Th. kwangsiense. In order to clarify the species status of the mossy frog obtained from Guangxi, we sequenced 2414 bp of the 12S and 16S genes in the sample collected from the Dayao Mountain. Combining all the sequence in NCBI, genetic analyses from the data suggest that the sample from the Dayao Mountain is Th. corticale rather than Th. kwangsiense. It is most likely that the most previous studies had wrong species identification. And, it is the first time we use DNA barcoding to prove that the species obtained from Guangxi is a new distribution of Th. corticale.

Reproduction in Urbanised Coastal Waters: Shallow-Water Sea Anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor and Stichodactyla haddoni) Maintain High Genetic Diversity and Panmixia

“…We detected several misidentifications based on morphology (Figure S2). Such misidentifications by parataxonomists are not uncommon [122,123], and the present study provides further evidence for the importance of species confirmation via DNA barcoding in taxonomically challenging groups such as actiniarians. Such taxa may not have sufficient taxonomic expertise available, or could consist of many cryptic species complexes.…”

Roads to isolation: Similar genomic history patterns in two species of freshwater crabs with contrasting environmental tolerances and range sizes

“…A first assessment can be performed based on sets of homologous loci such as mitochondrial markers (e.g., COI) which can yield initial genetic diversity estimates and species confirmation for those species where juveniles, males, and females are morphologically disparate. Such confirmation is especially important for species complexes with suspected cryptic species (Ewers & Wares, 2012;Huang, Chen, Wei, Bu, & Wu, 2017;James et al, 2010;Yang et al, 2015). COI is particularly suitable for this purpose because it has broad taxon coverage due to its use in DNA barcoding and phylogeography (Crandall et al, 2008;Herbert, Cywinska, Ball, & deWaard, 2003;Tay et al, 2016).…”

First record of Theloderma lateriticum Bain, Nguyen et Doan, 2009 (Anura Rhacophoridae) from China with redescribed morphology

“…First record of Theloderma lateriticum (Anura Rhacophoridae) from China with redescribed morphology Nguyen et al (2015) and Huang et al (2017) (Fig. 10).…”