Mountain-associated clade endemism in an ancient frog family (Nyctibatrachidae) on the Indian subcontinent

DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species

“…Van Bocxlaer et al (2012) first discussed patterns of endemism that were most likely caused by restricted dispersal across the three major gaps in the Western Ghats ( Figs 7C-D sp. nov. and M. thampii) between the Palghat and Goa gap; and one species (Micrixalus uttaraghati sp.…”

“…nov. was the only species that was found on both sides of the Shencottah gap, but not beyond the Palghat gap, while M. herrei also occurred at low elevations of Shencottah along with its distribution south of the gap (Figs 3, 7A-E, 8A). While studies have cited the Palghat gap as a barrier promoting distinct patterns of distribution in diverse amphibian genera Van Bocxlaer et al, 2012), the role of Palghat, Shencottah and Goa gaps in case of peculiar dispersal and speciation of Micrixalus remains to be investigated. The state-wise occurrence of known and newly described Micrixalus species, was found to be maximum in Kerala which had the highest number of species in both categories (eight known, eight new), followed by Karnataka (three known, three new), Tamil Nadu (three known, six new) and Maharashtra (one new) (Fig.…”

“…The Western Ghats is one of the major centers of global biodiversity, remarkable for its diverse flora and fauna as well as their origin and patterns of evolution (Biju and Bossuyt, 2003;Bossuyt and Milinkovitch, 2001;Bossuyt et al, 2004;Briggs, 2003;Mittermeier et al, 2004;Roelants et al, 2004;Van Bocxlaer et al, 2012). The Western Ghats primarily consists of a long north-south orientated mountain chain, extending from Gujarat in the north (21.00° N) to the southern tip of Peninsular India in Tamil Nadu (08.25° N) and covering a distance of approximately 1,600 km.…”

Morphology, natural history and molecular identification of tadpoles of three endemic frog species ofNyctibatrachusBoulenger, 1882 (Anura: Nyctibatrachidae) from Central Western Ghats, India

“…According to Pillai (1978), the tadpole was collected from a small stream in Kurichi Reserve Forest, Chedleth, Wayanad, Kerala in October 1976 (refer to Pillai 1978, figure 1). Based on a recent review of Nyctibatrachus genus and due to clade-level endemism (Biju et al 2011;Bocxlaer et al 2012), N. major is a southern Western Ghats species (between 8 and 9°N latitude; south of a 32 km wide Palghat gap that acted as a natural barrier in contiguous Western Ghats) while the tadpole described by Pillai (1978) is from 11.7-12°N latitude. Therefore the specific identity is debatable although the genus is likely correct.…”

“…Nyctibatrachidae represents one of the ancient frog families (Late Cretaceous in origin) in the Western Ghats with the genus Nyctibatrachus endemic to the Western Ghats and Lankanectes endemic to Sri Lanka (Bocxlaer et al 2012). The genus Nyctibatrachus was discovered by Boulenger in 1882 and recently Biju et al (2011) revised its taxonomy.…”