Integrative species delimitation helps to find the hidden diversity of the leaf-litter frog Ischnocnema manezinho (Garcia, 1996) (Anura, Brachycephalidae), endemic to the southern Atlantic Forest

• Published in: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 11; p. e15393
• Main Authors: Oswald, Caroline Batistim, Magalhães, Rafael Félix de, Garcia, Paulo C.A., Santos, Fabrício R., Neckel-Oliveira, Selvino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PeerJ. Ltd 25.05.2023; PeerJ Inc
• Subjects: Amphibians; Animals; Anura - genetics; Bioacoustics; Biodiversity; Biological diversity; Biological diversity conservation; Conservation Biology; Conservation genetics; Discovery and exploration; Forests; Genetics; Morphometry; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Plant Leaves; Red Lists; Species delimitation; Wildlife conservation; Zoology; Brazil; Bioacoustics; Phylogeography; Red Lists; Morphometry; Species delimitation; Conservation genetics; Endangered
• ISSN: 2167-8359; 2167-8359
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15393

The delimitation of cryptic species is a challenge for biodiversity conservation. Anurans show high cryptic diversity levels, and molecular species delimitation methods could help identify putative new species. Additionally, species delimitation approaches can provide important results for cryptic species conservation, with integrative methods adding robustness to results. was described from Santa Catarina Island (SCI), southern Brazil. More recently, some inventories indicated continental populations supposedly similar in morphology to it. If these records are confirmed as it would likely change its endangered status on National Red List, removing the species from conservation agendas. We investigated the threatened frog , to evaluate if the continental populations belong to this species or if they form an undescribed species complex. We used coalescent, distance, and allele-sharing-based species delimitation methods and integrative analyses of morphometric and bioacoustics traits to test evolutionary independence between from SCI, Arvoredo Island, and continental populations. is restricted to Santa Catarina Island, while the five remaining lineages should be further investigated through a taxonomic review. Our results point to a small geographic range of . Additionally, the species occurs in isolated fragments of forest in SCI surrounded by expanding urban areas, confirming its status as Endangered. Thus, the protection and monitoring of and the taxonomic description of the continental and Arvoredo Island candidate species should be priorities.