engleski

Molecular study on water frogs (genus Pelophylax) in Croatia ‐ preliminary results

According to literature data on the distribution of water frogs in Croatia, the area south of the Sava River is inhabited by Pelophylax ridibundus, while P. ridibundus, Pelophylax lessonae and their hybridogenetic complex (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) can be observed in the area north of the Sava River. Since the morphological determination of species and hybrids of water frogs is not reliable, the aim of this study was to determine the taxonomical status of water frogs in Croatia using molecular markers (length variation of serum albumin gene intron‐1 and the mitochondrial gene for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3). The study was performed on water frog populations from northern part and Adriatic coast of Croatia (Crna Mlaka fish ponds, Lika, Istra, Dalmatia, ). Results confirm the presence of species P. ridibundus, P. lessonae and their associated klepton P. kl. esculentus, and show an unexpected presence of species Pelophylax kurtmuelleri as well as new hybrid complexes. The presence of P. kurtmuelleri in the Lika region and Crna Mlaka fish ponds, and the discovery of P. lessonae in the Poštak Mountain (Dalmatia), point to the importance of revising the distribution data of water frog populations in Croatia.

Western Balkans; P. kurtmuelleri; serum albumin gene intron‐1; mitochondrial region ND3

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