A tale of two bellies: systematics of the oval frogs (Anura: Microhylidae: Elachistocleis Parker, 1927)

Oval frogs (Elachistocleis) have a broad geographic distribution covering nearly all of South America and parts of Central America. They also have a large inter- and intraspecific variation of the few morphological characters commonly used as diagnostic traits among species of the genus. Based on molecular data, we provide the most complete phylogeny of Elachistocleis to date, and explore its genetic diversity using distance-based and tree-based methods for putative species delimitation. Our results show that at least two of the most relevant traditional characters used in the taxonomy of this group (belly pattern and dorsal median white line) carry less phylogenetic information than previously thought. Based on our results, we propose some synonymizations and some candidate new species. This study is a first major step in disentangling the current systematics of Elachistocleis. Yet, a comprehensive review of morphological data is needed before any new species descriptions can be properly made.

Fil: Novaes e Fagundes, Gabriel. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Brasil

Fil: Lucio Lyra, Mariana. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Loredam, Vinicius S. A.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil

Fil: Carvalho, Thiago R.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil

Fil: Baptista Haddad, Célio Fernando. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil

Fil: Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil

Fil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina

Fil: Barrasso, Diego Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentina

Fil: Loebmann, Daniel. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande; Brasil

Fil: Ávila, Robson W.. Universidade Federal do Ceara; Brasil

Fil: Brusquetti, Francisco. Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay; Paraguay

Fil: Prudente, Ana L. C.. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; Brasil

Fil: Wheeler, Ward C.. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados Unidos

Fil: Goyannes Dill Orrico, Victor. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; Brasil

Fil: Peloso, Pedro. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; Brasil