Meeting Abstract
The African slippery frogs (genus Conraua) contain the largest extant species of frog, C. goliath, which can reach 32 cm in length and weigh more than >2.5 kg. The six described species have an unusual disjunct distribution across equatorial Africa, with two species (C. alleni, C. derooi) in western Africa, three (C. crassipes, C. goliath, C. robusta) in the Lower Guinean Atlantic Forests, and one (C. beccarii) in the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea. These species typically live in fast moving streams, and four are considered threatened, in part due to human consumption. The biology, evolution, and biogeography of these species remains poorly studied. Using a well-sampled multi-locus dataset, we generate a robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the recognized species that provides insights into the historical biogeography and evolution of body size in this genus. We also find evidence suggesting that populations within the two most widespread species (C. alleni, C. crassipes) likely represent distinct species requiring description.
