Data from: Pan-African phylogeography of a model organism, the African clawed frog “Xenopus laevis”

The African clawed frog Xenopus laevis has a large native distribution
over much of sub-Saharan Africa and is a model organism for research, a
proposed disease vector, and an invasive species. Despite its prominent
role in research and abundance in nature, surprisingly little is known
about the phylogeography and evolutionary history of this group. Here we
report an analysis of molecular variation of this clade based on 17 loci
(one mitochondrial, 16 nuclear) in up to 159 individuals sampled
throughout its native distribution. Phylogenetic relationships among
mitochondrial DNA haplotypes were incongruent with those among alleles of
the putatively female-specific sex-determining gene DM-W, in contrast to
the expectation of strict matrilineal inheritance of both loci. Population
structure and evolutionarily diverged lineages were evidenced by analyses
of molecular variation in these data. These results further contextualize
the chronology, and evolutionary relationships within this group, support
the recognition of X. laevis sensu stricto, X. petersii, X. victorianus,
and herein re-validated X. poweri as separate species. We also propose
that portions of the currently recognized distributions of X. laevis
(north of the Congo Basin) and X. petersii (south of the Congo Basin) be
reassigned to X. poweri.