Phylogeny of the genus Oreobates based on morphological and molecular characters (Anura, Brachycephaloidea, Craugastoridae)

• Grant number: 18/10458-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 20, 2018
• End date: March 19, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Grantee: Ana Paula Motta Vieira
• Supervisor: Christopher Raxworthy
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: American Museum of Natural History, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/08488-3 - Phylogeny, Morphological Evolution, and Diversification of Oreobates (Amphibia, Anura, Craugastoridae), BP.DR

Abstract

The genus Oreobates is widely distributed in tropical South America across a disparateand diverse array of ecoregions and shows interesting morphological and ecological diversity. Although the genus has been supported by molecular evidence, it poses a challenge for classifications based on morphology. Morphological synapomorphies have not yet been found for Oreobates and DNA analysis is the most unambiguous way to allocate species to this group. Osteological diversity and internal anatomy seem to be promising in finding combinations of features that may support the monophyly of the genus. The general purpose of this project is to perform a phylogenetic analysis under total evidence approach based on genetic and morphological data in order to find synapomorphies for the genus Oreobates. Specific objectives include (1) define morphological characters (external morphology, internal morphology, and osteology) and their states, (2) score the characters for species of Oreobates and its relatives, and (3) combine morphological and genetic data to perform a phylogenetic analysis. Morphological characters will be evaluated for species of Oreobates, and outgroup sampling includes species of ten related genera. Character sampling includes external morphology, internal morphology, and osteology. Osteological data will be obtained by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Phylogenetic analyses will be performed using morphological and molecular data combined using two optimality criteria: parsimony and maximum likelihood. (AU)