New Colonization Scenario for Australian-New Guinean Narrow Mouth Toads
Author Information
Author(s): Kurabayashi Atsushi, Matsui Masafumi, Belabut Daicus M, Yong Hoi-Sen, Ahmad Norhayati, Sudin Ahmad, Kuramoto Mitsuru, Hamidy Amir, Sumida Masayuki
Primary Institution: Institute for Amphibian Biology, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University
Hypothesis
What are the phylogenetic positions of the Asian genera Gastrophrynoides and Phrynella, and how do they relate to the trans-continental distributions of microhylid taxa?
Conclusion
The study suggests a novel colonization route for Asterophryinae via Indo-Eurasia rather than Antarctica.
Supporting Evidence
- Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Phrynella is part of the Asian subfamily Microhylinae.
- Gastrophrynoides was found to be the most basal member of the Australian-New Guinean subfamily Asterophryinae.
- The divergence of Gastrophrynoides from other asterophryines occurred around 48 million years ago.
- Previous studies suggested an Antarctic route for Asterophryinae, but this study proposes an Asian route.
Takeaway
Scientists studied some frogs to find out where they came from and discovered that one type might have traveled from Asia to Australia instead of from Antarctica.
Methodology
Molecular phylogenetic and dating analyses using six nuclear and two mitochondrial genes from 22 microhylid frog species.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to incomplete taxon sampling and reliance on molecular data.
Limitations
The study's findings are based on limited taxon sampling and may not fully represent the phylogenetic relationships.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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