A Taxonomic Revision of Papuan Rana (Amphibia, Ranidae)

Abstract

A program of stepwise discriminant analysis was used to distinguish seven groups of Papuan Rana believed, on ecological and behavioural characters, to constitute distinct species. Following the use of this method, four of these groups were associated with specific names in the literature, whereas three others could not be associated positively with any literature names and so are described as new species. Small samples from the eastern Indonesian islands and the east Melanesian islands made possible a comment on the identity of Rana occurring there. A synopsis of all species of Rana occurring in the area extending from the Indonesian islands of Timor and Seram to the Solomon Is is presented, and means of identifying species on the New Guinea mainland (by multivariate analysis or by dichotomous keys) are provided. A note on the chromosomes of some species is included.