Populating a Continent: Phylogenomics Reveal the Timing of Australian Frog Diversification.

This article focuses on the evolutionary history, biogeography, and diversification of Australian frogs, revealing a staggered colonization of the continent by three major frog clades with distinct origins and ages. Using a comprehensive phylogenomic dataset, the study identifies that the oldest Australian frog groups, the myobatrachoids (Myobatrachidae and Limnodynastidae), originated from Gondwanan ancestors linked to South America over 100 million years ago, while the pelodryadid treefrogs likely dispersed from South America through Antarctica around 40 million years ago. The youngest group, microhylid frogs, arrived more recently from Asia via New Guinea. These findings highlight how historical continental movements, climate changes, and ecological adaptations have shaped the unique diversity and distribution of Australian frogs across varied habitats, including arid zones. The phylogenetic framework provided offers a foundation for further research into the macroevolution and ecological diversification of this distinctive vertebrate fauna.