Unconfirmed Candidate Species (UCS) | Default category for deep genealogical lineages of unknown status. The genetic differentiation must be above a threshold value typical for comparisons among closely related species in the group of animals under study. Data deficient for morphology, ecology, and distribution. | Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences in 16S rRNA gene >3% to all other described species. No data on morphology and bioacoustics due to unavailability of voucher specimens or immature state of vouchers. |
Confirmed Candidate Species (CCS) | Specimens or populations characterized by a detectable genetic differentiation to all described species, not necessarily above any threshold, but in concordance with at least one of the following criteria:
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a distinct differentiation in a character that mediates a premating reproductive barrier, -
a diagnostic morphological difference in a character that in the respective group of animals is known to be of low intraspecific variability and of high value to discriminate species, -
sympatric occurrence without admixture, and with at least one phenotypic character state difference, even if subtle, strictly correlated to the genealogy inferred from a neutral molecular marker.
| Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences in 16S rRNA gene to all other described species in most cases >3%, sometimes only 1–2%. Concordance of this molecular differentiation with one of the following:
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a qualitative difference in advertisement calls, -
diagnostic difference in at least one morphological character known to be generally species-specific in Malagasy frogs: e.g., presence and extent of dermal spines, ridges and tubercles, extension of terminal finger tips, morphology of femoral glands, relative tympanum size, iris color, or tadpole mouthparts.
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Deep Conspecific Lineage (DCL) | Deep genealogical lineages above a threshold value typical for comparisons among closely related species in the group of animals under study. One or several of the following must apply:
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morphological and chromatic data reveal no differences to topotypic populations of a described species, or only subtle differences in characters that are known to show intraspecific variability, or only quantitative differences (in characters such as body size), -
if characters relevant for premating isolation are known, then these show no or only quantitative differences to topotypic populations of described species, -
phylogeographic studies are available and show indications for genetic admixture with other genealogical lineages within a species.
| Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences in 16S rRNA gene > 3% to all other described species in combination with one or several of the following:
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no morphological differences, or differences only in characters known to show intraspecific variability: e.g., size, relative hindlimb length, body color and pattern, -
no difference in advertisement calls, or only differences in variables known to show intraspecific variability, -
co-occurrence with other deeply divergent haplotypes within the same populations, not concordant with any distinct or subtle morphological difference among individuals.
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