Uncovering Neotropical treefrog diversity: integrative taxonomy reveal paraphyly in Boana atlantica (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract

Boana atlantica was described based on morphological characters to acommodate populations from Bahia state, Brazil, previously referred to as B. punctata. However, its taxonomic validity is questionable due to inconsistencies in bioacoustic data. Here, we integrate molecular, cytogenetic and morphological data to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of B. atlantica. Molecular analyses provided strong support for the hypothesis that B. atlantica is a valid species, being, however, nominal populations from Bahia state paraphyletic with respect to individuals of B. atlantica collected in Alagoas and Pernambuco states. These populations shown high genetic divergence in the 16S rRNA mitochondrial fragment, and we consider populations from Alagoas and Pernambuco as a putative new candidate species of Boana punctata group. The external and internal morphology of the tadpoles of these lineages were similar, but Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NOR) was sited in different chromosomes. Our results indicate that B. atlantica is paraphyletic and may be a complex of species. Morphological of adult and/or bioacoustical data should be further assessed to find diagnostic characters to tease these lineages apart and name them properly.

Discovering the diversity of tadpoles in the mid-north Brazil: morphological and molecular identification, and characterization of the habitat

“…aff. hypochondrialis , we present novel morphological characters ( e.g ., body shape, jaw sheath shape and labial tooth row formula) that support the hypothesis of the existence of a species complex that needs to be further investigated ( Bruschi et al, 2013 ; Jungfer et al, 2013 ; Lima et al, 2019 ). Moreover, we provide basic data for the characterization of Rhinella mirandaribeiroi tadpoles collected at a site closer to the type locality ( Frost, 2023 ) and associated environmental parameters.…”

“…similis require further investigation. Both species are typical of the Atlantic Forest ( Lima et al, 2019 ; Dubeux et al, 2022 ), however the closest records are far 1,316 km from our study area.…”

Repetitive DNA Mapping in Five Genera of Tree Frogs (Amphibia: Anura) from the Atlantic Forest: New Highlights on Genomic Organization in Hylidae

“…Cytogenetic studies have contributed to the understanding of the diversity of Anuran species, especially those characteristic of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest [22,23]. Chromosomal information is increasingly playing an important role in the integrative approach; thus, it can be integrated with bioacoustics, morphological, and molecular data, for stronger taxonomic hypotheses, as a basic step for establishing conservation strategies [29][30][31][32].…”