A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the genus Sylvirana (Anura: Ranidae) highlights unrecognized diversity, revised classification and historical biogeography

The genus Sylvirana includes 12 species widely distributed in
South China and Southeast Asia. The phylogenetic relationships
and species diversity for Sylvirana and
allied genera remain unresolved and controversial due to
insufficient data and incomplete taxon sampling. Using a combined dataset
of mitochondrial genes (16S and COI) and 101 nuclear genes obtained
through the amplicon sequence capture approach, we generated the most
comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for the genus Sylvirana to
date, inferring diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and historical
biogeography with unprecedented levels of taxon and geographic
sampling. Our results conservatively reveal
six undescribed species, mostly distributed in peninsular
Indochina. Phylogenetic analyses strongly support the
non-monophyly of Sylvirana with respect to Pterorana.
Additionally, phylogenetic results place Sylvirana
guentheri and Pelophylax lateralis into genus Humerana,
supporting the inclusion of
Hylarana latouchii, Papurana milleti, and
Hylarana attigua within Pterorana + Sylvirana.
The long-disputed species of Hylarana bannanica (previously
Sylvirana) cluster with genus Papurana. Because the results of
multiple non-monophyletic genera create taxonomic confusion, we
suggest relegating all genera to subgenus rank
of Hylarana. Sylvirana is a junior synonym of
the Pterorana. Biogeographically, we trace the origin
of Pterorana to Southeast Asia during the early Miocene,
with subsequent dispersal thereafter. Our study shows that
climatic changes may have profoundly influenced the diversification of
Pterorana during the Miocene.