Taxonomic Status of Three Types ofFejervarya cancrivorafrom Indonesia and Other Asian Countries Based on Morphological Observations and Crossing Experiments

Abstract

Although the crab-eating frog Fejervarya cancrivora is one of the most widely distributed species in Asian region, taxonomic relationships among different populations remain unclarified. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the taxonomic status of F. cancrivora from Indonesian and other Asian populations. Five populations of F. cancrivora from Selangor (Malaysia), Cianjur (Java, Indonesia), Trat (Thailand), Khulna (Bangladesh), and Makassar (Sulawesi, Indonesia) were morphologically observed and subjected to crossing experiments. Principal component and clustering analyses revealed that these five populations could be organized into three groups corresponding to three observed morphological types: a Selangor and Cianjur group (large-type), a Trat and Khulna group (mangrove-type), and a Makassar group (Sulawesi-type). The limited crossing experiments revealed that hybrids between Selangor females and Cianjur and Trat males developed normally, whereas hybrids between Selangor females and Khulna males showed incomplete gametic isolation. Histological observations of the testes of mature males revealed the presence of pycnotic nuclei in the hybrids between Selangor females and Khulna males in addition to normal bundles of spermatozoa. In contrast, no pycnotic nuclei were observed in the Selangor controls. Although meiotic metaphases in the controls were normal, those in hybrids showed several abnormalities, such as the appearance of univalents and an increase in rod-shaped bivalents. Based on our findings from the morphological observations and crossing experiments, we conclude that each of three identified types represents a distinct species. We propose that the large-type is F. cancrivora, the mangrove-type is F. moodiei, and the Sulawesi-type represents an undescribed species.

The amphibians and reptiles of Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, II: the herpetofauna of northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands

“…This endemic species, formerly considered conspecific with Fejervarya cancrivora but now afforded the status of an endemic Philippine species, due to its genetic distinctiveness (Kurniawan et al 2010, 2011), is common in coastal areas of NE Mindanao, brackish water swamps and mangroves, and river mouth estuarine areas. CAS specimens were collected in coastal areas, along riverbanks, four decades ago; an assessment of this species status in these heavily populated areas would be advisable.…”

Cryptic Anuran Biodiversity in Bangladesh Revealed by Mitochondrial 16S rRNA Gene Sequences

“…Species identification was based mainly on morphological characteristics described by Dutta and Manamendra-Arachchi (1996), Chanda (2002), and Kabir et al (2009). We followed the species names adopted in the system of Frost (2011), with the exceptions of Fejervarya sahyadris (= Minervarya sahyadris), which is nested in the South Asian Fejervarya clade (Kuramoto et al, 2007;Kotaki et al, 2010), and F. moodiei, which is revived from the synonymy of F. cancrivora (corresponding to Mangrove type) (Kurniawan et al, 2011). Most dicroglossid specimens in the present study were collected from localities that differ from those of previous studies.…”

“…The large type of F. cancrivora was designated as the nominal F. cancrivora (Kotaki et al, 2010), while the mangrove and Sulawesi types were Hillis & Wilcox, (2005); b1) DQ347336, Bossuyt et al (2006); c1) AY322281, Roelants et al (2004); d1) EU979836, Che et al (2009); and e1) AY158705, Liu et al (2005). designated as F. moodiei and an undescribed species, respectively (Kurniawan et al 2011). Fejervarya moodiei from two Bangladeshi populations (Cox's Bazar and Khulna) formed a clade with two F. cancrivora mangrove type from Thailand and India (BPs = 97 for ML, 100 for NJ, ≥ 95% for BI, and sequence divergence = 0.2%-2.1%, average 1.07%).…”

The amphibians and reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines, VIII: the herpetofauna of Cagayan and Isabela Provinces, northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range

“…29) is a widespread, endemic estuarine specialist that can be found in a variety of coastal areas including brackish water swamps. Previously considered conspecific with the widespread Southeast Asian species Fejervarya cancrivora , recent genetic evidence suggests that the Philippine populations are genetically distinct; the available name for the Philippine population is Fejervarya moodiei (Kurniawan et al 2010, 2011). Widespread and common at most coastal areas throughout the Philippines, this species is clearly most appropriately considered “Least Concern” (LC; IUCN 2011).…”