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.

非洲爪蟾（Xenopus laevis）的原生分布范围覆盖撒哈拉以南非洲大部分区域，既是科研领域常用的模式生物、潜在的疾病传播媒介，也是入侵物种。尽管该类群在科研中地位突出且野外种群数量丰富，但学界对其系统地理学与演化历史的认知却十分匮乏。本研究基于覆盖其原生分布区域的最多159份个体样本，对该演化支的17个基因座（1个线粒体基因座、16个核基因座）的分子变异展开分析。线粒体DNA单倍型间的系统发育关系，与假定的雌性特异性性别决定基因DM-W的等位基因间的系统发育关系并不一致，这与两个基因座均严格母系遗传的预期相悖。种群结构与演化分化支系可通过上述数据的分子变异分析得到佐证。本研究结果进一步明确了该类群的演化时序与内部演化关系，支持将狭义X. laevis、X. petersii、X. victorianus以及本文重新恢复有效性的X. poweri认定为独立物种。我们还提出，当前划定的X. laevis（刚果盆地以北）与X. petersii（刚果盆地以南）的分布范围中，有部分区域应重新划归X. poweri。