Evolutionary history of the Brachycephalus pernix group (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

• Grant number: 18/09691-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): November 02, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Grantee: Juliane Petry de Carli Monteiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/08799-4 - Evolutionary genetics of colour patterns in Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae), BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The diversification of endemic anurans from Atlantic Forest is often associated with species habitat specificity and isolation of populations in mountains areas. This is the case of the miniaturized froglets of the genus Brachycephalus, in which the large number of species described in recent years suggests an interesting evolutionary history that is not well understood. Currently, except for the four species of the flea-toad that do not constitute a monophyletic group, two groups of species are considered within Brachycephalus: B. ephippium group and B. pernix group. Recently, Brachycephalus actaeus, a new species of B. pernix group, was found in the Northeastern coast from state of Santa Catarina, together with phenotypically differentiated populations and with low genetic divergence, making it a good model for understanding the patterns of diversity and evolution within the genus. This project aim to improve the knowledge of the taxonomy and evolutionary processes involved in the speciation of the Brachycephalus pernix group. We intend to: (1) evaluate the taxonomic status of Brachycephalus spp. (aff. Brachycephalus actaeus) found in the Serra do Saí, in the Northeastern coast from state of Santa Catarina, through the investigation of morphological, bioacoustic and molecular characters; (2) explore the processes that could explain the color diversity in these Brachycephalus populations through transcriptome analysis; and (3) to carry out a taxonomic revision of the species of the Brachycephalus pernix group, with the intention of reassessing diversity and improving knowledge about this group of species. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CONDEZ, THAIS H.; MONTEIRO, JULIANE P. C.; MALAGOLI, LEO R.; TREVINE, VIVIAN C.; SCHUNCK, FABIO; GARCIA, PAULO C. A.; HADDAD, CELLO F. B.. Notes on the Hyperossified Pumpkin Toadlets of the Genus Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) with the Description of a New Species. Herpetologica, v. 77, n. 2, p. 176-194, JUN 2021. (17/26281-7, 13/50741-7, 14/23677-9, 18/09691-0, 14/50342-8)

LYRA, MARIANA L.; MONTEIRO, JULIANE P. C.; RANCILHAC, LOIS; IRISARRI, IKER; KUENZEL, SVEN; SANCHEZ, EUGENIA; CONDEZ, THAIS H.; ROJAS-PADILLA, OMAR; SOLE, MIRCO; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE; et al. Initial Phylotranscriptomic Confirmation of Homoplastic Evolution of the Conspicuous Coloration and Bufoniform Morphology of Pumpkin-Toadlets in the Genus Brachycephalus. TOXINS, v. 13, n. 11, NOV 2021. (17/26281-7, 14/50342-8, 18/09691-0, 19/18335-5, 16/25358-3, 13/50741-7)