The Phylogenetic Relationships of the Chinese and Vietnamese Waterfall frogs of the genus Amolops

Abstract

Abstract Ranid frogs of the genus Amolops occur in Southeast Asia and are typically found near waterfalls. Their phylogenetic relationships have not been resolved. We include 2,213 aligned nucleotide sites of the 12S, 16S and tRNAval gene regions of the mitochondrial DNA genome from 43 individuals of Chinese and Vietnamese Amolops, Huia, Hylarana, Meristogenys, Odorrana and Rana. The outgroup species were from the genera Chaparana, Limnonectes, Nanorana, and Paa. The data were analyzed within the framework of a refutationist philosophy using maximum parsimony. Four clades of waterfall frogs were resolved. Meristogenys was not resolved as the sister group to either Huia nor Amolops. The hypothesis of evolutionary relationships placed Amolops chapaensis and Huia nasica in the genus Odorrana.