PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS OF BROWN FROGS FROM TAIWAN AND JAPAN ASSESSED BY MITOCHONDRIAL CYTOCHROME-B GENE-SEQUENCES (RANA, RANIDAE)

In order to assess phylogenetic relationships of Taiwanese brown frogs (Rana longicrus and the R. sauteri complex), the partial sequences (5 87 base pairs) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b genes were compared w ith six brown frogs from Japan (R. pirica, R. ornativentris, R. japoni ca, R. tagoi tagoi, R. tsushimensis, and R. okinavana). Resultant phyl ogenetic trees indicated a considerable genetic differentiation betwee n R. longicrus and R. japonica in spite of their close morphological a nd ecological similarities. The R. sauteri complex includes two geneti cally distinct groups that are not consistent with current classificat ion. One group including populations of Alishan (central Taiwan) and S anyi (western Taiwan) seemed to be closest to R. tagoi and the presump tive common ancestor of these frogs is thought to have diverged very e arly. Another group including a population from Wulai (northern Taiwan ) showed a sister relationship with R, tsushimensis and R. okinavana, both isolated on small islands of Japan. These Taiwanese and Japanese brown frogs as a whole form a monophyletic group, and separation of th e R. sauteri complex as a distinct genus or subgenus Pseudorana was no t supported.