Taxonomic review of S cinax fuscomarginatus ( L utz, 1925) and related species ( A nura; H ylidae)

S cinax fuscomarginatus , S cinax parkeri , S cinax trilineatus , S cinax lutzorum , and S cinax pusillus are morphologically similar species with controversial taxonomy associated with open formations of S outh A merica east of the A ndes. We used external morphology, advertisement call, and molecular sequences to assess the taxonomy of these species. Phylogenetic analysis of molecular data showed a well‐supported monophyletic group divided into two main clades and several subclades. Specimens of H yla madeirae (synonym of S . fuscomarginatus ) and those from S erra do C achimbo correspond to distinct subclades, whereas the currently valid species were grouped into a single clade. This clade showed a marked substructure, but concordance of the recognized species to subclades was limited, showing S . fuscomarginatus to be paraphyletic with respect to S . parkeri , S . trilineatus , S . lutzorum , and S . pusillus . The high intrapopulation and intraspecific variation found in morphological characters did not allow us to differentiate amongst the currently recognized species. Similarly, none of them was distinguishable by morphometric analysis or advertisement call. Based on multiple evidence, we propose the synonymy of S . parkeri , S . trilineatus , S . lutzorum , and S . pusillus with S . fuscomarginatus , the revalidation of H . madeirae , and describe the specimens from S erra do C achimbo as a new species. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London