Big, Bad, and Beautiful: Phylogenetic Relationships of the Horned Frogs (Anura: Ceratophryidae)

• DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-14-00032.1
• Publication Date: 2014-12-31T10:13:16Z
• Authors: Julián Faivovich; Laura Nicoli; Boris L. Blotto; Martín O. Pereyra; Diego Baldo; J. Sebastián Barr...; Marissa Fabrezi; Erik R. Wild; Célio F.B. Haddad
• Keywords: Monophyly; Sister group

The horned frog family, Ceratophryidae, currently comprises three genera and 12 extant species, distributed from the Caribbean lowlands to Pampean grasslands. Horned frogs are fossorial species that remarkable in terms of their adult larval morphology, karyotype, behavior, other aspects biology. In this paper we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis with goals of: (1) exploring relationships among Ceratophryidae; (2) studying evolution polyploidy; (3) cocoon formation development duration associated surviving semiarid environments; (4) reviewing ceratophryid fossil record could be relevant as calibration points divergence estimations. included 11 and, when possible, multiple exemplars per well outgroups. Sequence data were obtained on seven mitochondrial six nuclear genes for up 8200 bp specimen. Our results indicate individual monophyly Ceratophrys Lepidobatrachus is corroborated. monotypic Chacophrys recovered sister taxon Lepidobatrachus, but Jackknife frequency < 50%. asper L. laevis llanensis. Relationships within congruent an earlier proposal, clade composed possessing dorsal bony shield (Ce. aurita, Ce. cranwelli, joazeirensis, ornata), another stolzmanni, calcarata, cornuta. Unlike proposals, octoploid ornata) not monophyletic, diploid ornata taxa. This result implies ambiguous optimization ploidy levels, either single origin octoploidy subsequent reversal diploidy, or two independent origins being equally parsimonious; both alternatives quite unusual perspective chromosome evolution. suggest ceratophryids diversified environments events resulted subsequently occupying temperate tropical humid areas. early diversification areas explains retention characteristics these (like production dead skin during estivation, possibly accelerated period development) A revision family indicates there only remains serve clock estimation, number issues them preclude use.