Trying to resolve the tree of life is not an easy task. Any inference of past history, whether in geology or in biology, gets more difficult the farther in the past we want to infer. For inferring past histories among ancient and recent lineages I use Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inference. And to infer species limits on more recent divergences I use bayesian species delimitation and integrative taxonomic evidence. 

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In neotropical herp (frogs and lizards) species in the Amazonian and Andean regions, recent lineage divergences and radiations have resulted in trees that are statistically difficult to resolve. These fast radiations have also resulted in lineages, particularly frogs, that have many morphologically cryptic species, increasing the complexity of phylogenetic estimation and systematic taxonomy. 

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In one project, we estimated phylogenetic relationships among Gymnophthalmid lizards using a mixed molecular/morphological approach with Bayesian inference (MrBayes). We described a new genus and two new species from Brazil.

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In another project, we used an integrative taxonomic approach to infer phylogenetic relationships and systematics of an Ecuadorian frog and found it to belong to a group of "tepui" (flattop mountain) frogs previously described as being restricted to eastern South America. 

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In another project we estimated morphology and molecular phylogenetic relationships and found a new lineage of stream breeding frog (Hyloscirtus) from the Sierra de Perijá, a mountain chain that delineates the northern Venezuela/Colombia border and until recently was inaccessible due to war. This paper was recently published in Zootaxa! 

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We also did a study where we found a lineage of Cerrado Gladiator Treefrogs to be morphologically cryptic yet divergent in both mating calls and genetically. This study is soon to be submitted to Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution! 

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We also found a new species of rain frog atop Chimantá massif in Venezuela.... no DNA sequencing required! a unique little guy (pictured in bottom left). 

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