Phylogeny and biogeography of theRhinella marinaspecies complex (Amphibia, Bufonidae) revisited: implications for Neotropical diversification hypotheses

Abstract

2010). Phylogeny and biogeography of the Rhinella marina species complex (Amphibia, Bufonidae) revisited: implications for Neotropical diversification hypotheses.-Zoologica Scripta, 39, 128-140. A number of distinct hypotheses have been proposed to account for the origin of the considerable biological diversity found in the Neotropics, which is still a matter of intense debate. Here, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the Rhinella marina complex, a group of species widely distributed in Central and South America, combining published data with new sequences of three mtDNA genes (12S, 16S and cyt b) in order to clarify the evolutionary relationships and biogeographical history of the group. We included eight of the ten currently recognized R. marina group species and several outgroups. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference analyses produced similar topologies, with two well-supported main clades, each characterized by a deep subdivision. One of these major clades includes the samples of R. marina from Central America and Ecuador (west of the Andes), whereas the other comprises the remaining species of the group and samples of R. marina from the Amazon basin and other areas east of the Andes. A Bayesian coalescent-based method (BEAST) dated the divergence between the two major clades, and between the Central American and Ecuadorian clades to the Miocene, matching the timing of other Central-South American faunal divergences. Taken together, the results highlight the importance of Tertiary events such as the Pebas ⁄ marine incursions into the Amazon basin and Andean uplift for the diversification and historical biogeography of R. marina, making such taxa paraphyletic, and provide new perspectives on the debate on its species status.

High Levels of Diversity Uncovered in a Widespread Nominal Taxon: Continental Phylogeography of the Neotropical Tree Frog Dendropsophus minutus

“…This was apparently an important period for the diversification of the Neotropical fauna and flora in the Amazonian region [33], [96], [97]. For instance, this period coincides with the diversification of other anurans such as the Allobates trilineatus complex 14.0–15.0 Ma [98], the Rhinella marina complex 10.7–17.2 Ma [99], the genus Phyzelaphryne 9.0–18 Ma [100] and the Amazonian Adelophryne clade 13.0–24.0 Ma [100]; as well as with the diversification of Amazonian gymnophthalmids of the genus Leposoma around 13.9 Ma [101].…”

Quaternary phylogeography: the roots of hybrid zones

“…There are numerous individual studies in North America with some concentration in SE USA (Walker and Avise 1998;Soltis et al 2006), SW USA (Calsbeek et al 2003) and Pacific NW (Brunsfeld et Burney and Brumfield 2009;Vallinoto et al;2010). This too shows geographic genetic divergence from Miocene and Pliocene events such as Andean uplift and the closing of Panama, and genetic signals of more recent Pleistocene range changes.…”

A new species of Mesocoelium (Digenea: Mesocoeliidae) found in Rhinella marina (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

“…Bufo marinus and Chaunus marinus) stretches from southern Texas to central Brazil. However, the species has also been introduced into a number of regions, such as Florida, Caribbean and Pacific islands, New Guinea and northwestern Australia, for the biological control of agricultural pests (Barton 1997, Ragoo & Omah-Maharaj 2003, Espinoza-Jiménez et al 2007, Vallinoto et al 2010.…”