OPS 5-15
Identifying cryptic lineages within an endemic frog genus (Indirana) in the Western Ghats
A large number of species in the tropics are awaiting discovery, many due to their crypticity ie. lack of morphological difference. We tested for crypticity in a frog genus, Indirana, endemic to the Western Ghats of peninsular India. We updated a published phylogeny using increased taxon and spatial sampling, and by examining the relationship between genetic and morphological divergence among close relatives. Initially, we delimited potential lineages using a 16S rRNA haplotype tree and then applied, multiple criteria including haplotype clusters in a multi-gene tree, genetic distances and geographical range separation. We then examined pairs of potential lineages with differing levels of genetic divergence in multivariate morphological space.
Results/Conclusions
Our results suggest that there are 19 – 21 potential lineages in Indirana, which is an increase of 70 – 90 % from earlier estimates. Several lineages within Indirana were cryptic and could not be distinguished on the basis of morphology, and the potential lineages identified await formal description as species.