A test for correct species declaration of frog legs imports from Indonesiainto the European Union

Frozen frog legs that had been shipped from Indonesia into the European Uni on were biochemically compared to reference muscle samples from wild Indone sian frog populations of different species. Frozen frog leg samples only al lowed for the analysis of eight allozyme loci, two of which were polymorphi c. The analyses clearly showed that all frog legs, despite their initial sp ecies declaration as Limnonectes macrodon, L. cancrivorus, L. limnocharis a nd Rana catesbeiana, all belonged to L. cancrivorus. Unless misclassificati on was intentional, it seems that Indonesian frog leg exporters are not abl e to discriminate between the species in trade. However, this ability shoul d be the basis for a sustainable use of this wildlife resource. A test for management authorities is needed to monitor the international trade in frog legs.