Protein Electrophoresis and the Systematics of Some New Guinea Hylid Frogs (Genus Litoria)

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Abstract
Samples of 13 spp. [L. angiana, L. arfakiana, L. caerulea, L. congenita, L. darlingtoni, L. eucnemis, L. infrafrenata, L. iris, L. micromembrana, L. modica, L. rothi, L. thesaurensis and L. wollastoni] of the more than 50 recorded from New Guinea were collected at 8 localities. Comparative data from 9 proteins studied in all species indicate wide biochemical divergence among species, in concordance with morphological evidence, and suggest the presence of 2 distinct lineages. Biochemical evidence supports the recognition of 2 previously described pairs of sibling species and suggests that a 3rd cryptic species may exist in 1 of these pairs. L. infrafrenata, a series for which no morphological variation of consequence in New Guinea has been recorded, shows population differentiation in proteins. Parameters of genetic variation in the species were estimated as: .hivin.A = 1.62, .hivin.P = 0.50, .hivin.H = 0.073. In contrast, L. iris, a species with marked color pattern polymorphism, shows little variation in proteins.