Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation
Glassfrogs (family: Centrolenidae) represent a fantastic radiation (~150 described species) of Neotropical anurans that originated in South America and dispersed into Central America. In this study, we review the systematics of Ecuadorian glassfrogs, providing species accounts of all 60 species, inc...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/222 |
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| author | Juan M. Guayasamin Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia Roy W. McDiarmid Paula Peña Carl R. Hutter |
| author_facet | Juan M. Guayasamin Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia Roy W. McDiarmid Paula Peña Carl R. Hutter |
| author_sort | Juan M. Guayasamin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glassfrogs (family: Centrolenidae) represent a fantastic radiation (~150 described species) of Neotropical anurans that originated in South America and dispersed into Central America. In this study, we review the systematics of Ecuadorian glassfrogs, providing species accounts of all 60 species, including three new species described herein. For all Ecuadorian species, we provide new information on the evolution, morphology, biology, conservation, and distribution. We present a new molecular phylogeny for Centrolenidae and address cryptic diversity within the family. We employ a candidate species system and designate 24 putative new species that require further study to determine their species status. We find that, in some cases, currently recognized species lack justification; specifically, we place <i>Centrolene gemmata</i> and <i>Centrolene scirtetes</i> under the synonymy of <i>Centrolene lynchi</i>; <i>C</i>. <i>guanacarum</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>bacata</i> under the synonymy of <i>Centrolene sanchezi; Cochranella phryxa</i> under the synonymy of <i>Cochranella resplendens</i>; and <i>Hyalinobatrachium ruedai</i> under the synonymy of <i>Hyalinobatrachium munozorum</i>. We also find that diversification patterns are mostly congruent with allopatric speciation, facilitated by barriers to gene flow (e.g., valleys, mountains, linearity of the Andes), and that niche conservatism is a dominant feature in the family. Conservation threats are diverse, but habitat destruction and climate change are of particular concern. The most imperiled glassfrogs in Ecuador are <i>Centrolene buckleyi</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>charapita</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>geckoidea</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>medemi</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>pipilata</i>, <i>Cochranella mache</i>, <i>Nymphargus balionotus</i>, <i>N</i>. <i>manduriacu</i>, <i>N</i>. <i>megacheirus</i>, and <i>N</i>. <i>sucre</i>, all of which are considered Critically Endangered. Lastly, we identify priority areas for glassfrog conservation in Ecuador. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:26:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b37b7bc32e29478d917d52dcdbc8e5e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:26:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-b37b7bc32e29478d917d52dcdbc8e5e12023-11-20T02:35:00ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-06-0112622210.3390/d12060222Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and ConservationJuan M. Guayasamin0Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia1Roy W. McDiarmid2Paula Peña3Carl R. Hutter4Instituto BIÓSFERA-USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Campus Cumbayá, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito 170901, EcuadorMuseo de Zoología & Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Instituto de Diversidad Biológica Tropical iBIOTROP, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito 170901, EcuadorUSGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013, USAIngeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático–BioCamb, Av. Machala y Sabanilla, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito 170103, EcuadorBiodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045–7561, USAGlassfrogs (family: Centrolenidae) represent a fantastic radiation (~150 described species) of Neotropical anurans that originated in South America and dispersed into Central America. In this study, we review the systematics of Ecuadorian glassfrogs, providing species accounts of all 60 species, including three new species described herein. For all Ecuadorian species, we provide new information on the evolution, morphology, biology, conservation, and distribution. We present a new molecular phylogeny for Centrolenidae and address cryptic diversity within the family. We employ a candidate species system and designate 24 putative new species that require further study to determine their species status. We find that, in some cases, currently recognized species lack justification; specifically, we place <i>Centrolene gemmata</i> and <i>Centrolene scirtetes</i> under the synonymy of <i>Centrolene lynchi</i>; <i>C</i>. <i>guanacarum</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>bacata</i> under the synonymy of <i>Centrolene sanchezi; Cochranella phryxa</i> under the synonymy of <i>Cochranella resplendens</i>; and <i>Hyalinobatrachium ruedai</i> under the synonymy of <i>Hyalinobatrachium munozorum</i>. We also find that diversification patterns are mostly congruent with allopatric speciation, facilitated by barriers to gene flow (e.g., valleys, mountains, linearity of the Andes), and that niche conservatism is a dominant feature in the family. Conservation threats are diverse, but habitat destruction and climate change are of particular concern. The most imperiled glassfrogs in Ecuador are <i>Centrolene buckleyi</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>charapita</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>geckoidea</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>medemi</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>pipilata</i>, <i>Cochranella mache</i>, <i>Nymphargus balionotus</i>, <i>N</i>. <i>manduriacu</i>, <i>N</i>. <i>megacheirus</i>, and <i>N</i>. <i>sucre</i>, all of which are considered Critically Endangered. Lastly, we identify priority areas for glassfrog conservation in Ecuador.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/222anurabiogeographycentrolenidaesystematicstaxonomy |
| spellingShingle | Juan M. Guayasamin Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia Roy W. McDiarmid Paula Peña Carl R. Hutter Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation Diversity anura biogeography centrolenidae systematics taxonomy |
| title | Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation |
| title_full | Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation |
| title_fullStr | Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation |
| title_short | Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, Evolution, and Conservation |
| title_sort | glassfrogs of ecuador diversity evolution and conservation |
| topic | anura biogeography centrolenidae systematics taxonomy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/222 |
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