Hanken Laboratory
Evolution: Morphology, Development, and Systematics

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Breda at waterfall

 

 

Breda Zimkus, Ph.D

Harvard University
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Department of Herpetology
26 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Laboratory Telephone: 617-496-4632
Office: 617-496-4065
Fax Number: 617-495-5667

bzimkus@oeb.harvard.edu

I am a biologist interested in the systematics and evolution of amphibians and reptiles.

My research combines fieldwork in sub-Saharan Africa with the collection of molecular and morphological data in the laboratory in order to answer interesting questions regarding evolutionary biology.

My dissertation research focused on the systematics of puddle frogs (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) from sub-Saharan Africa. These diminutive anurans have given taxonomists a great deal of difficulty due to inadequate descriptions, numerous species (approximately 75) and lack of distinguishing morphological characters. I am using molecular data to construct a phylogeny of this notoriously difficult family. I will use this phylogeny to resolve the taxonomy of the group, as well as investigate evolution of karyotype diversity, body size, and reproductive mode within the lineage.

Phrynobatrachus natalensis
Phrynobatrachus natalensis (Ethiopia)  
Phrynobatrachus parvulus
Phrynobatrachus parvulus (Malawi) 
Phrynobatrachus pakenhami
SS Phrynobatrachus pakenhami (Tanzania) 

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
    
Zimkus, B.M., Rödel, M.-O., and A. Hillers. Complex patterns of continental speciation: molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of sub-Saharan puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachus). In preparation.

Zimkus, B.M. and S. Schick. Use of the 16S rRNA gene to identify puddle frogs (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) of East Africa. Systematics and Biodiversity. Accepted.

Schick, S., Zimkus, B.M., Channing, A., Kohler, J., and S. Lötters. Systematics of 'Little Brown Frogs' from East Africa: Recognition of Phrynobatrachus scheffleri and description of a new species from the Kakamega Forest, Kenya (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae). Salamandra. Accepted.

Zimkus, B.M. 2008. Biogeographic analysis of puddle frogs across Cameroon and description of a new species of Phrynobatrachus (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) endemic to Mount Oku, Cameroon. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. In Press.

Zimkus, B.M. and J.G. Larson. 2009. External morphology and osteology support the placement of Phrynobatrachus nlonakoensis Plath, Herrmann, and Böhme, 2006 within the genus Arthroleptis. African Journal of Herpetology. African Journal of Herpetology 58 (1): 36-38. PDF

Hillers, A., Zimkus, B.M., and M.-O. Rödel. A new species of Phrynobatrachus (Amphibia: Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) from north-western Guinea, West Africa. 2008. Zootaxa 1815: 43-50. PDF

Raxworthy, C.J., Pearson, R.G., Zimkus, B.M., Reddy, S., Deo, A.J., Nussbaum, R.A., and C.M.
Ingram. 2008. Continental speciation in the tropics: contrasting biogeographic patterns of divergence in the Uroplatus leaf-tailed gecko radiation of Madagascar. Journal of Zoology 275 (4): 423-440. PDF

Zimkus, B.M. and D.C. Blackburn. 2008. Distinguishing features of the sub-Saharan frog genera Arthroleptis and Phrynobatrachus: a short guide for field and museum-based researchers. Breviora 513: 1-12. PDF

Uyeda, J.C., Drewes, R.C., and B.M. Zimkus. 2007. The California Academy of Sciences Gulf of Guinea Expeditions (2001, 2006) VI. A New Species of Phrynobatrachus from the Gulf of Guinea  Islands and a Reanalysis of Phrynobatrachus dispar and P. feae (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 58 (18), 371-389. PDF

 

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS: Geographic Distribution Notes

Zimkus, B.M. Phrynobatrachus pallidus: Geographic distribution (Kenya). Herpetological Review. Submitted.

Zimkus, B.M. 2008. Cacosternum plimptoni: Geographic distribution (Ethiopia). Herpetological Review 39 (2): 233.

Zimkus, B.M. 2008. Phrynobatrachus bullans: Geographic distribution (Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia). Herpetological Review 39 (2): 235.

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