MORPHOMETRIC VARIATION AND DIVERGENCE IN THE WEST MEDITERRANEAN DISCOGLOSSUS (AMPHIBIA, DISCOGLOSSIDAE)

Morphometrics of the four species of the genus Discoglossus occurring in the West Mediterranean area (D. galganoi, D. montalentii, D. pictus and D. sardus) was investigated. Univariate and multivariate statisti cs showed that the species are morphologically diverse and that popula tions of the same species form distinct and recognizable groups. Our r esults conflict in part with those derived from allozyme analysis of t he same taxa. The major conflict involves the comparisons between D. m ontalentii and D. sardus, and between D. g. galganoi and D. g. jeannea e. Whereas D. montalentii is genetically very distinct from D. sardus, their morphometric diversity is relatively low. On the other hand, mo rphometric divergence between D. g. galganoi and D. g. jeanneae (the l atter described as a species by Busack, i.e. D. jeanneae, is high, but they are very similar genetically. Both adaptation to the different c limatic regimes characterizing the West Mediterranean area and the phy logenetic history are suggested to account for the observed changes in the morphology.