Immunologische Untersuchungen zur Verwandtschaft zwischen den mitteleuropäischen Wasserfröschen des Rana kl. esculenta Synkleptons (Amphibia, Anura) und anderen Anuren‐Taxa

Abstract

Immunological Investigations on Relationships between Central European Water Frogs of the Rana kl. esculenta Synklepton and other Anuran TaxaAntigenic relationships between the Central European water frogs (Rana lessonae, Rana ridibunda and Rana kl. esculenta) and other anuran taxa were analysed by crossed‐immunoelectrophoresis. The closest connection exists between the water frogs and other Ranidae in the sequence Rana clamitans, Rana arvalis, Rana temporaria and Pyxicephalus adspersus. As a rule 50% of the plasm proteins showed cross‐reactions with the water frog antiserum. Furthermore, a high degree of antigenic relationship (40–45%) was also recognized for Hyperolius marmoratus (family Hyperoliidae) and Rhacophorus leucomystax (family Rhacophoridae). The plasm samples of the investigated Hylidae (Hyla arborea, Hyla septentrionalis, Smilisca baudinii), Bufonidae (Bufo bufo, Bufo calamita, Bufo marinus) and Dendrobatidae (Dendrobates auratus) reacted in a relatively uniform manner with the water frog antisera. On the average, four peaks were observed, which correspond to an antigenic relatedness of 18%. The Pelobatidae (Pelobates fuscus, Pelobates syriacus), Discoglossidae (Discoglossus sardus, Bombina bombina, Bombina variegata) and Pipidae (Pipa carvalhoi, Xenopus laevis) showed only little relations to the water frogs. In these species the observed degree of relationship ranged between 4.5 and 13.4%, whereas a relatively high intrafamily variation appeared.