Date of Award

2025-08-01

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biological Sciences

Advisor(s)

Eli Greenbaum

Abstract

The genus Hyperolius (Rapp, 1842) is the most speciose amphibian genus in sub-Saharan Africa. The genus has a complex taxonomic history because of its extensive intraspecific and interspecific morphological variation, large geographic distribution of many taxa, gaps in sampling, and the discovery of significant cryptic diversity within many species. The goal of this study is to understand the relationships and taxonomy of Hyperolius langi via an integrative taxonomic approach that combines molecular, morphological, and bioacoustics data to clarify the systematics of the geographically widespread species Hyperolius langi. Two mitochondrial (16S and cyt b) and one nuclear (RAG1) gene were used to construct phylogenetic trees in the H. langi complex, employing maximum likelihood (IQ-TREE) and Bayesian inference methods (BEAST). All analyses consistently recovered four strongly supported clades within a monophyletic H. langi complex, including H. langi sensu stricto, H. cf. langi Mwenga, H. cf. langi Fizi, and H. cf. langi Itombwe. Molecular and morphological evidence support the recognition of three new cryptic species. Future work should reconcile the taxonomic status of a well-supported subclade of H. langi sensu stricto from Irangi and Bitale in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (known from only 1 male and 4 females) and H. sp. Mitwaba, known from only one male specimen collected near Upemba National Park in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

110 p.

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Dominic Troiani

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