title: The phylogenetic position and diversity of the enigmatic mongrel frog Nothophryne Poynton, 1963 (Amphibia, Anura).
abstract: The phylogenetic relationships of the African mongrel frog genus Nothophryne are poorly understood. We provide the first molecular assessment of the phylogenetic position of, and diversity within, this monotypic genus from across its range-the Afromontane regions of Malawi and Mozambique. Our analysis using a two-tiered phylogenetic approach allowed us to place the genus in Pyxicephalidae. Within the family, Nothophryne grouped with Tomopterna, a hypothesis judged significantly better than alternative hypotheses proposed based on morphology. Our analyses of populations across the range of Nothophryne suggest the presence of several cryptic species, at least one species per mountain. Formal recognition of these species is pending but there is a major conservation concern for these narrowly distributed populations in an area impacted by major habitat change. The phylogenetic tree of pyxicephalids is used to examine evolution of life history, ancestral habitat, and biogeography of this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland. Electronic address: gabriela.bittencourt@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Gabriela B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bittencourt-Silva
authors.affiliation: Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), Humewood 6013, South Africa; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Conradie
authors.affiliation: Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics Lab, IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3FG, United Kingdom; School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural UNMSM, Av. Arenales 1256, Jesus María, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siu-Ting
authors.affiliation: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Rhodes Drive, Private Bag X7, Newlands, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Krystal A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tolley
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7525, South Africa.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Channing
authors.affiliation: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lúrio University, Pemba 958, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Harith M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.affiliation: Tropical Biodiversity Section, Museo delle Scienze, Viale del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menegon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland; University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Loader
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000145:classification*; D001947:Breeding; D017753:Ecosystem; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009073:Mozambique; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Ancestral reconstruction; Biogeography; Cryptic diversity; Mozambique; Pyxicephalidae; Taxonomy