A procedure for taxon assessment based on morphological variation in European water frogs ( Pelophylax esculentus complex)

Turkish journal of zoology

article

KATARINA BREKA¹  IMRE KRIZMANIC¹  TANJA VUKOV²  SRDJAN STAMENKOVIC¹ 

[1] Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade;Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, National Institute of Republic of Serbia

关键词: Green frogs;    Pelophylax ridibundus;    Pelophylax lessonae;    Pelophylax esculentus;    taxon identification;   

DOI  :  10.3906/zoo-1912-29

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK

【 摘 要 】

Methods for morphological identification of water frogs from the Pelophylax esculentus complex have changed over the decades. Still, without resort to genetic analyses, water frogs remain among the most difficult European amphibians to distinguish due to their hybrid nature. The aim of this study was to identify a reliable set of quantitative and qualitative morphological characters that objectively resolve species? identification in the Pelophylax esculentus complex and provide a rapid and robust procedure for taxon identification. Our results showed a substantial difference in morphological characteristics among taxa. The shape and size of the metatarsal tubercle along with the coloration of the hind limbs and flanks appear to be the most important diagnostic traits. Linear discriminant analysis with both quantitative and qualitative traits as a rapid method for the assessment of water frog taxa showed satisfactory accuracy and prediction classification for all 3 members of the complex.

【 授权许可】

Unknown