Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)

Advances in molecular techniques have improved our ability to quantify genetic introgression, but they also blur distinctions between hybrids and parental taxa in conservation and taxonomy. Here, we highlight challenges of identifying and defining hybrids within zoological nomenclature. Using high-t...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Ambu, Johanna, Martínez-Solano, Iñigo, Hernandez, Axel, Dufresnes, Christophe
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::b6494f3a85af90f19741bd72b6ec7dea
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429254
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Alytes almogavarii
Holotype
Hybrid zone
Zoological nomenclature
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spelling Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)Ambu, JohannaMartínez-Solano, IñigoHernandez, AxelDufresnes, ChristopheAlytes almogavariiHolotypeHybrid zoneZoological nomenclatureAdvances in molecular techniques have improved our ability to quantify genetic introgression, but they also blur distinctions between hybrids and parental taxa in conservation and taxonomy. Here, we highlight challenges of identifying and defining hybrids within zoological nomenclature. Using high-throughput sequencing data, we show that the holotype of a recently described midwife toad subspecies, Alytes almogavarii inigoi, originates from a wide hybrid zone with its sister taxon, Alytes almogavarii almogavarii. Although the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature permits names based on admixed hybrid individuals (except F1 hybrids), this case raises questions about the applicability of the name to the intended population. To address this, we introduce a quantitative method for distinguishing admixed from parental specimens, using thresholds of foreign ancestry corresponding to known levels of backcrossing. Our findings reveal that the holotype carries 15% foreign ancestry, which is more than a second-generation backcross and thus too much to represent a distinct, non-admixed population. We therefore provide a replacement name by redescribing the Central Pyrenean lineage of Alytes almogavarii from a genetically pure population. This case illustrates the ambiguity surrounding admixed type specimens under current nomenclatural rules and emphasizes the growing need for clearer guidelines as taxonomy enters the genomic era.CSIC - Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN)Oxford University PressConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]2026202620252026info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcPublisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/429254reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf120Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:digitalcsic_::b6494f3a85af90f19741bd72b6ec7dea2026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
title Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
spellingShingle Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
Ambu, Johanna
Alytes almogavarii
Holotype
Hybrid zone
Zoological nomenclature
title_short Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
title_full Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
title_fullStr Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
title_full_unstemmed Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
title_sort Escaping a nomenclatural limbo caused by hybridization (and the challenges to measure it) in midwife toads (Alytidae: Alytes Wagler, 1829)
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Ambu, Johanna
Martínez-Solano, Iñigo
Hernandez, Axel
Dufresnes, Christophe
author Ambu, Johanna
author_facet Ambu, Johanna
Martínez-Solano, Iñigo
Hernandez, Axel
Dufresnes, Christophe
author_role author
author2 Martínez-Solano, Iñigo
Hernandez, Axel
Dufresnes, Christophe
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Alytes almogavarii
Holotype
Hybrid zone
Zoological nomenclature
topic Alytes almogavarii
Holotype
Hybrid zone
Zoological nomenclature
description Advances in molecular techniques have improved our ability to quantify genetic introgression, but they also blur distinctions between hybrids and parental taxa in conservation and taxonomy. Here, we highlight challenges of identifying and defining hybrids within zoological nomenclature. Using high-throughput sequencing data, we show that the holotype of a recently described midwife toad subspecies, Alytes almogavarii inigoi, originates from a wide hybrid zone with its sister taxon, Alytes almogavarii almogavarii. Although the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature permits names based on admixed hybrid individuals (except F1 hybrids), this case raises questions about the applicability of the name to the intended population. To address this, we introduce a quantitative method for distinguishing admixed from parental specimens, using thresholds of foreign ancestry corresponding to known levels of backcrossing. Our findings reveal that the holotype carries 15% foreign ancestry, which is more than a second-generation backcross and thus too much to represent a distinct, non-admixed population. We therefore provide a replacement name by redescribing the Central Pyrenean lineage of Alytes almogavarii from a genetically pure population. This case illustrates the ambiguity surrounding admixed type specimens under current nomenclatural rules and emphasizes the growing need for clearer guidelines as taxonomy enters the genomic era.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bc
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429254
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429254
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf120
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Oxford University Press
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Oxford University Press
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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