PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS OF JAPANESE BROWN FROGS (RANA, RANIDAE) ASSESSED BY MITOCHONDRIAL CYTOCHROME-B GENE-SEQUENCES

Phylogenetic relationships among the 10 nominate taxa of Japanese brow n frogs (Rana pirica, R. dybowskii, R. ornativentris, R. japonica, R. tagoi tagoi, R. t. yakushimensis, R. t. okiensis, R. sakuraii, R. tsus himensis and R. okinavana) are assessed using sequences of 456 base pa irs of the mitochondrial cytochrome b genes. The resultant phylogeneti c trees indicate that a presumptive common ancester of R. tagoi and R. sakuraii, both with distinct breeding habits, differentiated earliest , followed by that of R. tsushimensis and R. okinavana, both isolated on small islands. Considerable genetic differentiation is found betwee n subspecies of R. tagoi and between two populations of R. okinavana. Rana pirica, R. dybowskii and R. ornativentris, all with 2n = 24 chrom osomes, form a monophyletic group, and appear to be derived from a 26- chromosome ancestor. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.