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A rapid method for species identification and interspecies introgression based on a PCR–RFLP: application to the closely related Neotropical toads Rhinella marina and R. schneideri (Anura: Bufonidae)

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Abstract

Toad species Rhinella marina and R. schneideri (Bufonidae, Anura) are widely distributed in Amazon and Cerrado/Caatinga, respectively. Recent data has hypothesized that these two toad species share a history of a massive introgressive hybridization. Therefore, the aim of the present work was the precise identification of organisms with signs of past introgression or actual ongoing hybridization. In this paper we conducted a method based on polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism, through the use of the CfoI enzyme. The individuals of R. marina have two specific digested bands, which is not digested in R. schneideri, possessing the hybrids three bands. The method was very efficient and allowed fast identification of these species.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially funded by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), through the research projects MCT/CNPq-14-2010, MCT/CNPq-3-2009, CAPES/FCT-244/09, PTDC/BIA-BEC/105093/2008 and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) em Biodiversidade e Uso da Terra da Amazônia (CNPq-574008/2008-0), by post-doctoral grant to FS (SFRH /BPD/27134/2006) and by doctoral grants to DBC and DS (FAPESPA).

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Correspondence to M. Vallinoto.

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Cunha, D.B., Sodré, D., Santos, A.C.A. et al. A rapid method for species identification and interspecies introgression based on a PCR–RFLP: application to the closely related Neotropical toads Rhinella marina and R. schneideri (Anura: Bufonidae). Conservation Genet Resour 5, 227–229 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-012-9775-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-012-9775-6

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