BUCHHOLZ, D.R.*; ESPIRA, A.; BARBER, P; HAYES, T.B.: Juvenile patterns and sexual dichromatism in the endemic African reedfrog family, Hyperoliidae

African reedfrogs, containing 19 genera with hundreds of species, are abundantly found in sub-saharan Africa and nearby islands. We have been studying the sexual dichromatism in the ubiquitous genus Hyperolius at multiple hierarchical levels. A large proportion of Hyperolius species exhibit different color patterns between males and females, where the male retains a juvenile color pattern from which the female develops a distinct color pattern. We characterized the color patterns of many Hyperolius taxa and determined their ontogenetic color changes. In mapping this information onto a phylogenetic hypothesis based on molecular data, we found that adult color pattern dichromatism has arisen independently several times. The presence of a juvenile color pattern may be a prerequisite for evolution of sexual dichromatism. Furthermore, based on juvenile color pattern and phylogenetic analysis, we suggest a resolution to alternate ways to classify the taxa in the H. viridiflavus/marmoratus superspecies. Finally, the occurrence of sexual dichromatism in Hyperolius is compared with that found in the remainder of the family. [Louise B. Kellogg Grants-In-Aid and National Geographic Grant NGS-6101-98]