Why the reclassification to Oophaga?

skips · #1 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 08:13 AM

Is this a fairly recent reclassification of species from some dendrobatids to oophaga? Why? Was there some new DNA or morphological data that came out or was it just that they wanted to separate the obligate egg eaters? Any body know?

ChrisK · #2 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 09:04 AM

Yeah i think that had to do with egg-feeding frogs

MonarchzMan · #3 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 01:05 PM

There are a variety of reasons for the reclassification of the family, not just Oophaga. The primary reason for the reclassification is genetics, although the behavior and morphology of the animals also plays a role. Dendrobates was a trashbasket genus where pretty much any brightly colored dendrobatid would be thrown into it. While I do not agree with all of the changes (for instance, making Aromabatidae a full family), a lot of the changes were necessary and needed.

Corpus Callosum · #4 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 01:11 PM

Some discussion..

Considering whether to adopt new nomenclature

new proposed classification

new Systematic

Be sure to check out the paper too.

ChrisK · #5 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 05:48 PM

I was just trying to answer the Oophaga question - so are the egg feeders really that different genetically?

Philsuma · #6 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

I was just trying to answer the Oophaga question - so are the egg feeders really that different genetically?

From my own absolutely non-scientific viewpoint....probably, yes.

I think it has been a long time coming (the reclassification), especially from a scientific taxonomy standpoint.

Besides, all those Herpetologists and Biologists who get paid to watch frogs need to justify their grants and subsides......

markbudde · #7 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 06:07 PM

If your interested in the phylogenetic tree.

Philsuma · #8 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 06:10 PM

Awesome chart post!

Now the question is, why do all the Europeans produce all the cool charts, diagrams and books?

Corpus Callosum · #9 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philsuma

Now the question is, why do all the Europeans produce all the cool charts, diagrams and books?

I think Mark's top picture is from dendrobates.org (Americans, for the most part) but I can't seem to find it on their site anymore so he can correct me if I'm wrong (it may have been pulled to get remade since it's using the other taxonomy classification)..

bobberly1 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-22-2008, 11:29 PM

This always happens with these ever expanding genuses. Anyone else here familiar with the genus Cichlasoma?