The phylogeny of Dendropsophini (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae)

The relationships of the hyline tribe Dendropsophini remain poorly studied, with most published analyses dealing with few of the species groups ofDendropsophus. In order to test the monophyly of Dendropsophini, its genera, and the species groups currently recognized inDendropsophus, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic analysis. The molecular dataset included sequences of three mitochondrial and five nuclear genes from 210 terminals, including 12 outgroup species, the two species ofXenohyla, and 93 of the 108 recognized species ofDendropsophus. The phenomic dataset includes 46 terminals, one per species (34Dendropsophus, oneXenohyla, and 11 outgroup species). Our results corroborate the monophyly of Dendropsophini and the reciprocal monophyly ofDendropsophusandXenohyla. Some species groups ofDendropsophusare paraphyletic (theD. microcephalus,D. minimus, andD. parvicepsgroups, and theD. rubicundulusclade). On the basis of our results, we recognize nine species groups; for three of them (D. leucophyllatus,D. microcephalus, andD. parvicepsgroups) we recognize some nominal clades to highlight specific morphology or relationships and facilitate species taxonomy. We further discuss the evolution of oviposition site selection, where our results show multiple instances of independent evolution of terrestrial egg clutches during the evolutionary history ofDendropsophus.

Automated summary

This study focused on the phylogeny of the hyline tribe Dendropsophini, confirming the monophyly of the tribe and the reciprocal monophyly of the genera Dendropsophus and Xenohyla. The research identified nine species groups within Dendropsophini, with some species groups showing paraphyletic relationships. The study also discussed the evolution of oviposition site selection, revealing multiple instances of independent evolution of terrestrial egg clutches in the evolutionary history of Dendropsophus.