Phylogenetic Relationships among Local Populations of Rana dybowskii Assessed by Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

Abstract

Comparison of nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene among populations of the brown frog, Rana dybowskii, showed that the population from south Korea is very similar genetically to the Tsushima population and they are considered to be conspecific. The latter population is thought to have invaded Tsushima recently via the Korean Peninsula. These frogs, however, have sequences substantially different from those of the population from near the type locality, the Maritime Territory of Russia. Thus, the current taxonomic treatment to unify all populations into the single species (R. dybowskii) is genetically not supported.