The taxonomic placement of the Miocene Patagonian frog Wawelia gerholdi (Amphibia: Anura)

NICOLI, LAURA; MUZZOPAPPA, PAULA; FAIVOVICH, JULIÁN

ALCHERINGA

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 vol. 40 p. 153 - 160

0311-5518

The Miocene frog Wawelia gerholdi, from northern Patagonia, has previously been attributed to Ceratophryidae, the clade of the extant South American horned frogs, making it one of the older records known for this group. However, the only known specimen has juvenile attributes and a strong similarity with the australobatrachian Calyptocephalella. We re-examine the morphology of W. gerholdi and provide additional anatomical information and comparisons with juvenile individuals of Ceratophryidae and Calyptocephalella gayi, the only extant species of the genus Calyptocephalella. We subsequently reject a close relationship between W.gerholdi and Ceratophryidae. Furthermore, the holotype is indistinguishable from juveniles of C. gayi and shares with all the species of this genus a similar character state combination that seems unique among anurans. We therefore consider Wawelia to be a junior synonym of Calyptocephalella. The problematic taxonomic status of numerous fossil species of Calyptocephalella, together with its untested monophyly, also prompts us to provisionally consider the extinct species as a species inquirenda included in this genus, pending a comprehensive revision of all available remains.