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Morphological characterisationof a population of Ranaridibunda Pallas, 1771 in theDalaman area, TurkeyCemal Varol Tok a , Mehmet Kutsay Atatür b & DinçerAyaz ba Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department ofZoologyb Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department ofHydrobiology, 35100, İzmir, TurkeyVersion of record first published: 28 Feb 2013.

To cite this article: Cemal Varol Tok , Mehmet Kutsay Atatür & Dinçer Ayaz (2000):Morphological characterisation of a population of Rana ridibunda Pallas, 1771 in theDalaman area, Turkey, Zoology in the Middle East, 20:1, 47-54

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2000.10637811

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Morphological characterisation of a population of Rana ridibunda Pallas, 1771 in the Dalaman area, Turkey

by Cemal Varol Tok, Mehmet Kutsay Atatür and Dinçer Ayaz

Abstract: 91 specimens of the Marsh or Lake Frog Rana ridibunda from the vicinity of Kap�karg�n Village (Dalaman, Mu�la province, Turkey) were investigated morphometrically and from the viewpoint of colouration and colour pattern. While the specimens were found to be identical morphometrically with Rana ridibunda, the venter of 87% of the specimens was more or less covered with fine black or yellow warts, which is not known from elsewhere in Turkey.

Kurzfassung: Morphologische Merkmale, Färbung und Zeichnungsmuster von 91 Exemplaren des Wasserfrosches Rana ridibunda aus der Umgebung von Kap�karg�n (Dalaman, Provinz Mu�la, Türkei) wurden untersucht. Während sich die morphologischen Merkmale der Population von anderen Populationen von Rana ridibunda nicht unterscheidet, war die Unterseite von 87% der Exemplare mehr oder weniger stark mit schwarzen und gelben Warzen bedeckt. Dies ist von anderen Gebieten der Türkei nicht bekannt.

Key words: Rana ridibunda, morphology, colouration, pattern, Kap�karg�n, Middle East.

Introduction Accepted until recently as a monotypic species, Rana ridibunda was originally described by Pallas from Atyrau (terra typica restricta). Its range includes Central and Southern Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia. The Turkish population was treated by BODENHEIMER (1944), BARAN (1969), YILMAZ (1984) and OLGUN (1986) as the Rana ridibunda complex, sensu lato. Based on some morphological and colouration parameters, ARIKAN (1988) sepa-rated the population from Bey�ehir and named it R. r. caralitana. Later the same subspecies was reported from E�ridir, Su�la Lake, tributaries of the Çar�amba Stream in the Lakes District; westerly from Gölcük (Isparta), Çivril (Denizli), southerly from the foothills of the Taurus Range and easterly from the vicinity of �vriz-Ere�li (Konya) (ATATÜR et al. 1990, ARIKAN et al. 1994, 1998, BUDAK et al. in press). On the other hand, SCHNEIDER et al. (1992) claimed that the previously accepted R. ridibunda populations of Israel should now be treated as a separate species, R. levantina, according to their morphological and bioacous-tical characteristics, and they also included the western populations of Turkey in the same species on the basis of the bioacoustical results of JOERMANN et al. (1988). In a later taxo-nomic reassessment of Middle Eastern water frogs, SCHNEIDER & SINSCH placed the same group in R. bedriagae (SCHNEIDER & SINSCH 1999, SINSCH & SCHNEIDER 1999). In a more recent study on Turkish populations, KUMLUTA� et al. (1999) placed the Black Sea popula-tions in the nominate race.

In order to contribute further to a better understanding of the systematics and taxonomy of

Zoology in the Middle East 20, 2000: 47–54. ISSN 0939-7140 © Max Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg

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48 Zoology in the Middle East 20, 2000

the Rada ridibunda complex in the Middle East, a population on the Mediterranean coast was examined. Our aim is to show the differences between this population and populations from Anatolia and some adjacent regions.

Material and methods We studied 91 specimens of Rana ridibunda (54 �, 37 �) which were collected from the vicinity of Kap�karg�n Village, 8 km SW of Dalaman (Mu�la province, Turkey). The material is now deposited in the Zoology Department, Ege University (ZDEU).

With the exception of the first 14 specimens collected, which show a certain degree of post-mortem colour change, colouration characteristics of the remaining 77 specimens were recorded upon collection and colour slides were taken immediately. Upon their anesthetization with ether, the specimens were injected with a fixative (three parts 40% formaldehyde plus seven parts 70% ethanol), then placed in 70% ethanol. For pattern and wart-distribution analyses of dorsal and ventral aspects, ethanol specimens were used.

Morphometric measurements were taken by means of a dial caliper of 0.01 mm sensitivity. To compare the morphometric data of the two sexes, LSD distribution tests were computed utilizing one-way variance analysis (ANOVA). P-values of less than 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.

Material: ZDEU 110/97.1-14; Kap�karg�n-Dalaman, Mu�la province, 2.5.1997, leg. M. KOÇ. – ZDEU 149/97.1-77; ibid. 13.9.1997, leg. C. V. TOK & D. AYAZ.

Results The morphometric parameters on the specimens studied is given in Tab. 1. Differences be-tween the sexes were evident in all parameters, even in the ratio of body length to head length. The ground colouration of the dorsum was green, greenish-yellow or brown. Over-laying this, darker brown or dark green maculations were present. These sometimes joined together to form transverse bands on the hind legs. The lateral vocal sacs of the males were blackish-grey. More or less distinct yellowish colouration was evident at the inguinal regions and at posteromedial parts of the femora.

Of the 77 ethanol specimens on which dorsal patterns were discernible (46 �, 31 �), 29 (37.7%) displayed a light yellow or greenish vertebral stripe. It was possible to differentiate three types of dorsal patterns in this group of specimens: Dorsal pattern type A: Recorded in 17 � (37.0%) and 10 � (32.3%); with relatively large 4–5 maculations forming a single row in the vertebral area and smaller maculations usually forming a row in each paravertebral area above the dorsolateral folds (Fig. 2A). 35.1% of the material displays this pattern. Dorsal pattern type B: Seen in 13 � (28.3%) and 8 � (25.8%); more or less distinct, smaller or larger maculations are randomly distributed on dorsum (Fig. 2B). 27.3% of the material displays this pattern. Dorsal pattern type C: Recorded in 16 � (34.8%) and 13 � (41.9%); with a lighter col-oured vertebral stripe extending from the tip of the rostrum to the cloaca, and various-sized dark maculations on both sides of the stripe, usually in contact with it (Fig. 2C). 37.7% of the material displays this pattern.

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Amphibia 49

Tab.

1. M

orph

omet

ric m

easu

rem

ents

and

ratio

s of t

he R

ana

ridi

bund

a m

ater

ial f

rom

Dal

aman

toge

ther

with

thei

r sta

tistic

al d

ata

(N: s

ampl

e si

ze;

M:

mea

n; M

in-M

ax: e

xtre

me

valu

es; S

D: s

tand

ard

devi

atio

n; S

E: s

tand

ard

erro

r of t

he m

ean;

SV

L: S

nout

-Ven

t Len

gth,

HL:

Hea

d Le

ngth

; HW

: H

ead

Wid

th;

TL:

Tibi

a Le

ngth

; M

TL:

Met

atar

sal

Tube

rcle

Len

gth;

FTL

: Fi

rst

Toe

Leng

th;

HLL

: H

ind

Leg

Leng

th;

FL:

Fem

ur L

engt

h; F

LL:

Fore

Leg

Len

gth;

TA

L: T

arsu

s Len

gth)

.

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50 Zoology in the Middle East 20, 2000

Tab. 2. C

omparison of the m

orphometric data of the D

alaman population w

ith data given in the literature. R. r. ridibunda from D

alaman = present

study; R. r. ridibunda from D

atça after TO

K (1999) and from the B

lack Sea after KU

MLU

TA� et al. (1999), R. ridibunda from

Greece after

SC

HN

EIDER et al. (1992), R. levantina after S

CH

NEID

ER et al. (1992), R. ridibunda caralitana from B

ey�ehir after AR

IKA

N (1988) and from Ç

ivril after B

UD

AK et al. (in press), R. ridibunda from

Greece after S

CH

NEID

ER et al. (1984), R. epeirotica after SC

HN

EIDER et al. (1984), and a hybrid

from G

reece after SC

HN

EIDER et al. (1984). A

bbreviations as in Tab. 1.

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Amphibia 51

Fig. 1. Dorsal (above) and ventral (middle) pattern types of Rana ridibunda from the Dalaman area. Below: the types of distribution pattern of the ventral warts.

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52 Zoology in the Middle East 20, 2000

Of the 77 ethanol specimens on which ventral patterns were discernible (46 �, 31 �), it was possible to differentiate three types: Ventral pattern type A: In 9 � (19.6%) and 17 � (55.0%) specimens the venters were completely immaculate or the maculations were very indistinct (Fig. 3A). 33.8% of the mate-rial displays this pattern. Ventral pattern type B: In 26 � (56.5%) and 10 � (32.0%) specimens ventral maculations were evident especially under the head, and they extended down to the mid-body (Fig. 3B). 46.8% of the material displays this pattern. Ventral pattern type C: In 11 � (23.9%) and 4 � (13.0%) specimens the venters were covered completely with dark maculations of varying abundance (Fig. 3C). 19.5% of the material displays this pattern. Of the 77 ethanol specimens (46 �, 31 �) which displayed to some degree the presence of ventral warts, again three groups were discernible: I. Group: In 19 � (41.3%) and 16 � (51.6%) specimens the venters were densely warty (Fig. 4A). 45.5% of the material displays this characteristic. II. Group: In 21 � (46.0%) and 11 � (35.0%) specimens the venters were sparsely covered with warts (Fig. 4B). 41.6% of the material displays this characteristic. III. Group: In 6 � (13.0%) and 4 � (13.0%) specimens the venters displayed no warts (Fig. 4C), a situation shared by 13.0% of the material. According to these data, 87% of the material displayed dense to sparse fine black or yellow warts on their venters.

Discussion Until recently, the marsh frogs living in Turkey were accepted as Rana ridibunda, R. r. ridibunda or R. r. caralitana (BODENHEIMER 1944, BARAN 1969, BA�OLU & ÖZETI 1973; YILMAZ 1984, OLGUN 1986, ARIKAN 1988, ATATÜR et al. 1990, ARIKAN et al. 1994, 1998, KUMLUTA� et al. 1999, TOK 1999, BUDAK et al.in press). But some recent work, mainly based on vocalisation analyses (SCHNEIDER et al. 1992, JOERMANN et al. 1988), have placed the Turkish populations in R. levantina, and still later in R. bedriagae (SCHNEIDER & SINSCH 1999, SINSCH & SCHNEIDER 1999), based on the principle of priority. According to these papers, R. ridibunda inhabits Kazakhstan, Armenia and Greece.

From the viewpoint of morphological characteristics, a comparision of our sample from Dalaman with those of some previous authors (SCHNEIDER et al. 1984, ARIKAN 1988, SCHNEIDER et al. 1992, KUMLUTA� et al. 1999, TOK 1999, BUDAK et al. in press) shows that in the SVL/TL ratio our material is almost identical with the R. ridibunda population from Greece, in the SVL/HW ratio it is more or less similar to the R. r. ridibunda population from the Black Sea Region and to the R. r. caralitana population from Çivril (Denizli province), in the SVL/FTL ratio it is closer to the R. r. caralitana populations from Bey�ehir (Konya province) and Çivril, in the SVL/FL ratio it is identical with R. epeirotica and also very close to the R. ridibunda population from Greece. The SVL/MTL ratio showed a slight similarity to the R. r. ridibunda population from the Black Sea Region, while from the viewpoint of FTL/MTL ratio our material is again identical with R. epeirotica from Greece, is quite simi-

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Amphibia 53

lar to the R. r. caralitana population from Çivril in HL/HW ratio, and is quite similar to the R. epeirotica population of Greece in TL/MTL ratio (Tab. 2).

According to these findings, our sample from the Dalaman population is identical with R. epeirotica from Greece in two characters (SVL/FL, FTL/MTL), and is also closer to this in one character (TL/MTL). Again, it is closer to R. ridibunda from Greece in two characters (SVL/TL, SVL/FL). On the other hand, our material shows no similarity to the hybrid form of R. epeirotica and R. ridibunda from Greece (SCHNEIDER et al. 1984) or to R. levantina (more recently R. bedriagae) from Israel. These dissimilarities may stem from different measurement point choices by different authors, and we do not believe that they are of enough significance for a taxonomic differentiation at the species level.

Clearly, the most important difference between the Dalaman population and all other populations is the presence of more or less prominent, variously sized black (or more sparsely yellowish) warts on the venters of 87% of the Dalaman material. A cursory investi-gation of these protuberances showed that there is no parasitic invasion of the epidermis or the dermis. The slight thickenings of the skin seemed to be the result of a small accumulation of a lipid-like material within the dermis, and the surface colouration of the warts came from groupings of well developed chromatophores. We believe that it is necessary to carry out further histological and detailed cytotaxonomic and ecological studies on the Dalaman popu-lation to establish whether this unique character stems from environmental factors, or is a congenital feature of the population.

References ARIKAN, H., K. OLGUN, �. E. ÇEV�K & C. V. TOK (1998): A Taxonomical Study on the Rana

ridibunda Pallas, 1771 (Anura: Ranidae) Population from �vriz-Ere�li (Konya). – Turkish Journal of Zoology 22(3): 181–184, Ankara.

ARIKAN, H. (1988): On a new form Rana ridibunda (Anura: Ranidae) from Turkey. – �stanbul Üniversitesi Fen Fakultesi Mecmuas� 53: 81–87, �stanbul.

ARIKAN, H., N. ÖZET�, �. E. ÇEV�K & M. TOSUNOLU (1994): Rana ridibunda caralitana (Anura: Ranidae)'nin Göller Bölgesi'nde Da��l���. – Turkish Journal of Zoology 18: 141–145, Ankara.

ATATÜR, M. K., H. ARIKAN & A. MERMER (1990): A taxonomical investigation on Rana ridibunda Pallas (Anura: Ranidae) populations from the Lakes District-Anatolia. – �stanbul Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Dergisi 54, 1989/1990: 79-83, Ankara.

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54 Zoology in the Middle East 20, 2000

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Authors’ addresses: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cemal Varol Tok, Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology. – Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kutsay Atatür and Dinçer Ayaz, Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Hydrobiology, 35100 �zmir, Turkey. – Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. M. K. Atatür. Email: Atatur@fenfak.ege.edu.tr.

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