Molecular phylogenetic relationships and generic placement of Dryaderces inframaculata Boulenger, 1882 (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract

Dryaderces inframaculata Boulenger, 1882, is a rare species known only from a few specimens and localities in the southeastern Amazonia rainforest. It was originally described in the genus Hyla, after ~ 130 years transferred to Osteocephalus, and more recently to Dryaderces. These taxonomic changes were based solely on the similarity of morphological characters. Herein, we investigate the phylogenetic relationships and generic placement of D. inframaculata using molecular data from a collected specimen from the middle Tapajos River region, state of Para, Brazil. Two mitochondrial DNA fragments (16S and COI) were assessed among representative species in the subfamily Lophiohylinae (Anura: Hylidae) to reconstruct phylogenetic trees under Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood criteria. Our results corroborate the monophyly of Dryaderces and the generic placement of D. inframaculata with high support. Dryaderces inframaculata is sister to an undescribed taxon, Dryaderces pearsoni Ca1 Jungfer et al., 2013, and both are sister to Dryaderces pearsoni Gaige, 1929. These findings are relevant for further research on the systematics and biogeography of the genus.