An Analysis of Eleutherodactylus Speciation in Hispaniola

1. An Analysis of Eleutherodactylus Speciation in Hispaniola George Inglis

2. Research Goals Haiti Dominican Republic

3. Species Observed • E. abbotti • E. alcoae • E. audanti • E. flavescens • E. furcyensis • E. glaphycompus • E. haitianus • E. heminota • E. inoptatus • E. montanus • Neiba (E. floresi / E. raetaliaarum) • E. oxyrhynchus • E. parabates • E. patriciae • E. pictissimus • E. ruthae • E. schmidti

4. Methods of Study • Look for phylogenetic evidence • Find all available specimens • Map out locations • Compare the two (or more) species of frogs, try to find morphological differences • Measure to find growth ratio differences • Analyze frog calls (limited)

5. E. furcyensis • Located in the Furcy area of Haiti, and nearby parts of the Dominican Republic. • Separated into the North and South slopes of the mountain range.

6. South Slope North Slope

7. E. furcyensis North Slope: • Gradual curve in odontophores • Bigger palmar, thenar • Tubercles along lower sides of venter • “Flat” round digital pads South Slope: • Sharply, more noticeably curved odontophores • Smaller palmar, thenar • No tubercles along lower side of venter • Circular digital pads

8. E. furcyensis

9. E. furcyensis • Morne la Visite • Thin, circular digital pads • Unique “lesion”-like marks along sides • Has ratio differences between other slopes

10. E. furcyensis

11. E. inoptatus • Geographically distributed all throughout Hispaniola, divided between the North and South parts of the island

12. E. inoptatus South Island

13. E. inoptatus • Larger frog, but very difficult to distinguish between North and South • No ratio differences, defining feature is questionable • Lots of polymorphic variation in both, covers all ranges

14. E. inoptatus • Must turn to other determinant of speciation: frog calls • Use Raven to examine frog calls • Frequency • Duration • Have calls from one North inoptatus and six South • Some were release • Overall, 3 viable calls

15. E. inoptatus • North: • Higher average frequency call, ≈3091 Hz • Call duration: .304 - .341 seconds • South: • Lower average frequency call, ≈1730-1920 Hz • Call duration: .400 - .535 seconds • There is potential, need more calls from Northisland frogs before can be sure

17. Neiba Frogs • From Sierra de Neiba, Dominican Republic

18. Neiba Frogs • Two new species of frogs (unrelated) • E. floresi • E. parabates, E. haitianus • E. raetaliaarum • E. schmidti • Currently no schmidtiin lab, so examining parabates and haitianus for comparison

19. E. floresi • Distinct from both similar species • Vs. Haitianus • Head Length vs. Itnernareal • Head Width vs. Internareal • Internareal vs. S-V • Internareal vs. Radio-Ulna • Vs. Parabates • Internareal vs. S-V

20. E. floresi • vs. Haitianus • Significantly smaller • Black vocal sacs in males • Has interocular marking • vs. Parabates • Significantly smaller • Thinner digital pads • Concave loreal region • Less prominent supratympanic bar and canthal lines

21. Conclusion • Still a lot to do • Always need as large a sample size as possible • Look past simply the outward, physical differences