Systematics of Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa with the description of a new species and comments on the taxonomy of Trachycephalus typhonius (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract

<i>Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa</i> is an Amazonian hylid of uncertain phylogenetic position. Herein DNA sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes are used to determine its phylogenetic relationships. New sequences and external morphology of <i>Trachycephalus typhonius</i> are also analyzed to assess the status of Ecuadorian and Peruvian populations. The phylogeny shows unequivocally that <i>Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa</i> is nested within the genus <i>Tepuihyla</i>, tribe Lophiohylini. This position was unexpected because the remaining species of <i>Ecnomiohyla</i> belong to the tribe Hylini. To solve the paraphyly of the genus <i>Ecnomiohyla</i>, <i>Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa</i> is transferred to the genus <i>Tepuihyla</i>. Comparisons of DNA sequences, external morphology, and advertisement calls between populations of <i>Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa</i> from Ecuador and Peru indicate that the Peruvian population represents an undescribed species. The new species is described and a species account is provided for <i>Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa</i>. <i>Trachycephalus typhonius</i> is paraphyletic relative to <i>Trachycephalus cunauaru</i>, <i>Trachycephalus hadroceps</i>, and <i>Trachycephalus resinifictrix</i>. The phylogenetic position of populations from western Ecuador indicates that they represent a species separate from <i>Trachycephalus typhonius</i><i>sensu stricto</i>. We resurrect the name <i>Hyla quadrangulum</i> (<i>Trachycephalus quadrangulum</i><b>comb. n.</b>) for those populations. Amazonian populations of "<i>Trachycephalus typhonius</i>" from Ecuador and Peru are genetically and morphologically distinct from <i>Trachycephalus typhonius</i><i>sensu stricto</i> and are conspecific with the holotype of <i>Hyla macrotis</i>. Therefore, we also resurrect <i>Hyla macrotis</i>, a decision that results in <i>Trachycephalus macrotis</i><b>comb. n.</b>