Ibrahim Jaafar

A New Cascade Frog of the Subgenus Odorrana from Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract We describe a new species of cascade frog of the genus Rana, from west Malaysia. Rana monjerai, new species is a medium-sized frog of the subgenus Odorrana (SVL of males, 38–43 mm; of one female, 75 mm), and is distinguished from all other members of this subgenus by the combination of: white lip stripe, dorsolateral fold, full web on the fourth toe, vomerine teeth, gular vocal pouch and relatively large tympanum in males, no dorsal marking, no clear light spots on rear of thigh, first finger subequal to second, finely tuberculated dorsum, and unpigmented ova. The significance of finding this species from peninsular Malaysia is discussed.

Genetic structure of the Asian Grass Frog, Fejevarya limnocharis (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae) of Peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary report

BackgroundFejevarya limnocharis (Dicroglossidae) is found widespread in Peninsular Malaysia. We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence data to evaluate the genetic variability and population structure of this species, based on 106 individuals from 14 populations in the west coast (northwest and central west) and two populations from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.ResultsOf 519, 13 variable sites (six parsimony informative sites) were observed, defining 14 unique haplotypes. We found very low levels of genetic variability, with three of the 16 populations exhibiting total absence of genetic variation. Both phylogenetic analyses based on NJ and MP methods failed to detect any geographic structuring between the east and west coast (northwest and central west combined) populations.ConclusionsConsequently, it can be inferred that genetic structuring F. limnocharis populations in the Peninsular Malaysia was largely shaped by natural barriers. However, when this breaks down as between the central west and east peninsular regions, genetic differentiation is reduced. Further studies, with more efficient markers and larger populations, especially from the southern regions, are required to corroborate the findings.