Identity of Rana chensinensis from other brown frogs as assessed by mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences

Phylogenetic relationships of Rana chensinensis from western China with rel ated frogs that are often synonymized with it (R. pirica, R. dybowskii, and R. ornativentris) are assessed on the basis of the sequence of 572 base pa irs of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. For comparison with these species a ll with 2n = 24 chromosomes, we use R. japonica having 2n = 26 chromosomes. The resultant phylogenetic trees indicate that there are considerable gene tic differentiations among species with 2n = 24 chromosomes. Rana chensinen sis is similarly distant from R. pirica, R. dybowskii, and R ornativentris as is from R. japonica and is not conspecific with the three species having 2n = 24 chromosomes.