A phenogram of the subfamily Amphignathodontinae (Hylidae) based on morphometry

Abstract

A tentative phenogram of some species of Amphignathodontinae with morphometric data is presented. Four methods have been tried: UPGMA of WPGMA, with or without the size of the animals. Size and the WPGMA method seem to be the most satisfactory. However they cannot be taken as a faithful imagen of the reality, since the genera Anotheca and Nyctimantis, recognized as not belonging to the subfamily, are not separated first, as it should be. The genera Cryptobatrachus and Stefania appear closely related; Fritziana and Flectonotus are associated with the small southern Andean species of Gastrotheca which is at odds with Maxson's findings: they might plausibly be united. On the other hand, Gastrotheca appears composite. The southern montane species which include the type species of the genus G. marsupiata, are somewhat different from the northern andean forms which are definitely larger, but the eastern species of the ovifera group may deserve their own genus Opisthodelphys Günther. The most intriguing fact is the very close relationships between the G. cornuta group and Amphignathodon.