Phylogenetic Relationships of Two Poorly Known Honduran Treefrogs (Hylidae: Hylinae: Hylini)

Abstract

Isthmohyla insolita and Exerodonta catracha are Honduran hylids of uncertain phylogeneticrelationships. In this paper we present a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nucleargenes to study their relationships. Our results show that these species are, respectively, the sistertaxon of and nested among the few available species of Plectrohyla, possibly the least studiedgenus of Hylini in terms of phylogenetic relationships. To solve the polyphyly of Exerodontaand Isthmohyla, both species are provisionally transferred to Plectrohyla, pending a broaderphylogenetic study including all species in the genus. Consequently, Isthmohyla is restricted toa group of hylids endemic to the Isthmian highlands of Costa Rica and Panama in lower CentralAmerica. The inclusion of I. insolita in Plectrohyla implies another instance of independentevolution of terrestrial egg clutches in Hylini.