title: Evaluating the diversity of Neotropical anurans using DNA barcodes.
abstract: This study tested the effectiveness of COI barcodes for the discrimination of anuran species from the Amazon basin and other Neotropical regions. Barcodes were determined for a total of 59 species, with a further 58 species being included from GenBank. In most cases, distinguishing species using the barcodes was straightforward. Each species had a distinct COI barcode or codes, with intraspecific distances ranging from 0% to 9.9%. However, relatively high intraspecific divergence (11.4-19.4%) was observed in some species, such asRanitomeya ventrimaculata,Craugastor fitzingeri,Hypsiboas leptolineatus,Scinax fuscomarginatusandLeptodactylus knudseni, which may reflect errors of identification or the presence of a species complex. Intraspecific distances recorded in species for which samples were obtained from GenBank (Engystomops pustulosus,Atelopus varius,Craugastor podiciferus, andDendropsophus labialis) were greater than those between many pairs of species. Interspecific distances ranged between 11-39%. Overall, the clear differences observed between most intra- and inter-specific distances indicate that the COI barcode is an effective tool for the identification of Neotropical species in most of the cases analyzed in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Federal da Paraíba, Campus Cabedelo, Cabedelo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Estupiñán
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evonnildo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Silvanira R
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Campus de Bragança, Bragança. Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallinoto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém. Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Paula C
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schneider
keywords: Amazon basin; COI; DNA barcoding; amphibians; identification; taxonomy