skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: The Rediscovery of Noblella peruviana after More than 115 Years Helps Resolve the Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Noblella (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae)
We revise the taxonomy of the frog genus Noblella on the basis of a molecular phylogeny. Previous studies recognized that Noblella is non-monophyletic, with one clade distributed from southeastern Peru to northeastern Bolivia and adjacent areas in Brazil and another clade distributed from northern Peru to Ecuador and southeastern Colombia. The lack of sequences from the type species Noblella peruviana prevented the investigation of its phylogenetic position and the status of related taxa. Our rediscovery after more than 115 years allowed for the inclusion of DNA sequences of Noblella peruviana obtained from specimens collected at the type locality in southeastern Peru. We inferred a phylogeny based on a concatenated dataset (three mitochondrial and two nuclear loci) using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. Our phylogeny corroborated the non-monophyly of Noblella and helped resolve the status of related taxa, including Psychrophrynella bagrecito, the type species of the genus Psychrophrynella (rediscovered after 42 years). We identified a clade containing N. peruviana, P. bagrecito, and other species of Noblella and Psychrophrynella distributed in southern Peru. Given that the name Noblella predates Psychrophrynella, we propose that Psychrophrynella should be considered a junior synonym of Noblella. The second clade contains species of Noblella distributed in Ecuador and northern Peru, including N. myrmecoides, which used to be the type species of the genus Phyllonastes. Consequently, we propose to reinstate the genus Phyllonastes to accommodate all species of Noblella distributed in Ecuador, northern Peru, southeastern Colombia, and adjacent areas in Brazil. We present an updated taxonomy including new combinations for 12 species and reinstatements for three species.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2218191
PAR ID:
10546346
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Diversity
Volume:
16
Issue:
10
ISSN:
1424-2818
Page Range / eLocation ID:
613
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
amphibians Andes terrestrial-breeding frogs
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. null (Ed.)
    The darkling beetle genus Hypogena Dejean, 1834 (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae) is revised. Hypogena is entirely composed of dorsoventrally flattened species that live subcortically in dead trees. This genus is generally identified by male specific characters, particularly the presence of cephalic horns. Hypogena is currently placed within the tribe Triboliini Gistel, 1848. However, several previously overlooked morphological characters call into question its placement within the tribe. A morphological matrix of 94 external adult characters was assembled to examine species relationships and boundaries. The resulting phylogeny is presented. Thirteen Hypogena species were previously recognized as valid, including Hypogena marginalis Doyen & Poinar from Dominican amber. Four previously unidentified species are described in this study: Hypogena akuma sp. nov. (Brazil), Hypogena cryptica sp. nov. (Mexico), Hypogena hirsuta sp. nov. (Ecuador), and Hypogena reburra sp. nov. (Colombia). Lectotypes are designated for Hypogena depressa (Champion, 1886), Hypogena dejeani (Champion, 1886), Hypogena canaliculata (Champion, 1886), and Hypogena vacca (Fabricius, 1801). A neotype is designated for Tenebrio biimpressus (Latreille, 1833) (type species of Hypogena, synonymized under Hypogena brasilica (Perty)) in order to maintain stability within the genus. 
    more » « less
  2. Bougainvillea Comm. ex Juss. is one of the renowned genera in the Nyctaginaceae, but despite its recognized horticultural value, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus is not well-studied. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on plastid genomes showed that B. pachyphylla and B. peruviana are basal taxa, while B. spinosa is sister to two distinct clades: the predominantly cultivated Bougainvillea clade (B. spectabilis, B. glabra, B. arborea, B. cultivar, B. praecox) and the clade containing wild species of Bougainvillea (B. berberidifolia, B. campanulata, B. infesta, B. modesta, B. luteoalba, B. stipitata, and B. stipitata var. grisebachiana). Early divergence of B. peruviana, B. pachyphylla and B. spinosa is highly supported, thus the previously proposed division of Bougainvillea into two subgenera (Bougainvillea and Tricycla) was not reflected in this study. Morphological analysis also revealed that leaf arrangement, size, and indumentum together with the perianth tube and anthocarp shape and indumentum are important characteristics in differentiating the species of Bougainvillea. In the present study, 11 species and one variety are recognized in Bougainvillea. Six names are newly reduced to synonymy, and lectotypes are designated for 27 names. In addition, a revised identification key and illustrations of the distinguishing parts are also provided in the paper. 
    more » « less
  3. The troglomorphic scorpion genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981, occurs in hypogean and epigean habitats in the Andean and Amazonian rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. The phylogenetic relationships among the species of Troglotayosicus are currently unknown. In the present contribution, a new species, Troglotayosicus akaido, sp. nov., is described from specimens collected in the leaf litter of a primary rainforest in the Colombian Amazon, near the border with Peru, raising the number of species in the genus to seven. The new species represents the easternmost record of the genus and further extends its distribution into the Amazon. Its phylogenetic position was tested in an analysis of all species of the genus and two outgroup taxa, scored for 131 morphological characters (16 new and 115 legacy; 104 binary and 27 mulstistate) analyzed with maximum likelihood under the MK model. Troglotayosicus was recovered as monophyletic and composed of two main clades. The morphological survey revealed that the ventral macrosetae of the leg telotarsi of the type species, Troglotayosicus vachoni Lourenço, 1981, are simple, subspiniform macrosetae, irregularly distributed, but not arranged into clusters nor forming elongated clusters of setae/spinules, as previously suggested. A distribution map and key to the identification of the species of Troglotayosicus are provided. Further research, incorporating molecular data, is needed to understand the evolution and biogeographical history of this enigmatic scorpion genus. 
    more » « less
  4. A new species of Nasa ser. Alatae (Urban & Gilg) Weigend from Northern Peru is described and illustrated.Nasa katjaesp. nov.was at first encountered by an observation on iNaturalist and subsequently collected in the humid Andean forests near Colasay in the province of Jaén (Cajamarca, Peru). Whilst comparing the new species with closely relatedNasa loxensis(Kunth) Weigend, a taxon widespread in Southern Ecuador (and tentatively adjacent Peru), a reevaluation of the status of earlier synonymizedLoasa calycinaBenth. became necessary. Consequently,Nasa calycinacomb. nov.is rehabilitated at species level andNasa loxensisis redefined. 
    more » « less
  5. Metoposaurids are a clade of large-bodied temnospondyls commonly found in non-marine Late Triassic deposits across northern Pangea. Three taxa are known from North America: Anaschisma browni , Apachesaurus gregorii , and “ Metoposaurus ” bakeri . While the osteology of most metoposaurids has been recently revised, that of a few taxa, including “ Metoposaurus ” bakeri remains poorly characterized. This taxon was formally described in 1931 as “ Buettneria bakeri ,” and its taxonomy has remained in flux ever since then. “ Metoposaurus ” bakeri is the earliest appearing metoposaurid in North America (Carnian of Texas), and Metoposaurus has frequently been utilized as an index taxon of the Otischalkian estimated holochron (‘land vertebrate faunachron’) and for biostratigraphic correlations with other geographic regions. The taxonomy of this species is therefore relevant for both taxonomic experts and biostratigraphers. Here we redescribe all material from the type locality of “ M .” bakeri , the Elkins Place bone bed, and perform a phylogenetic analysis using a revised matrix assembled from several previous studies. Anatomical comparisons and phylogenetic analyses do not support placement in either Metoposaurus , a taxon otherwise only found in Europe, or Anaschisma , the only other large-bodied taxon from North America. Therefore, we erect a new genus, Buettnererpeton gen. nov., to accommodate this species. Metoposaurus is consequently absent from North America, and this genus cannot be used in global biostratigraphy. Phylogenetic analyses provide evidence that the phylogeny of the Metoposauridae remains extremely labile, with drastic differences in topological resolution and structure being linked to just a handful of characters and scores. Metoposaurids’ morphological conservatism and the increased recognition of intraspecific variation thus continue to be major confounds to elucidating the evolutionary history of this clade. 
    more » « less