Blogger Template Demo

Leptobrachium nigrops

Researchers from the Indonesia Institute of Science (LIPI), Amir Hamidy, managed to find two new species of frog. Each named Leptobrachium ingeri and Leptbrachium kanowitense.

A measure of two species is tiny just as much as the fingers. L. ingeri and L. kanowitense only having long 3-5 cm with a measure of female larger. This species including the smallest in genus.

Leptobrachium ingeri

Both species were discovered through research complex Leptobrachium nigrops species scattered in areas of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Belitung) and Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia). Research conducted for the previously known that L population in Peninsular Malaysia, nigrops Belitung, Borneo and has a high genetic diversity. It would be an indication that each population refers to a different species.

As many as 31 specimens from Sarawak Research Collections (SRC), Kyoto University, and the Museum of Zoology, Bogor, used for morphological analysis. As for the 23 10 specimens of species of the genus Leptbrachium are used for molecular analysis. Frog sounds studied with tape.

Leptobrachium kanowitense

The research found that populations in each region is indeed referring to the different species. L nigrops is population inhabiting Singapore. Population inhabiting Belitung and shore Sarawak is L ingeri, while inhabiting the mainland Sarawak is L kanowitense.

In an interview with kompas.com electronic mail thursday ( 26 / 7 / 2012 ), amir stated that the difference between the third species can be seen genetically after kinds of analysese in dna motocondria and the core. ' to frogs, the difference between a kind of in the range of 3 %, usually already said different. Genetic distance between L. Nigrops, L. Ingeri and L. Kanowitense very large, more than 9 percent ' said Amir.

In morphology, the third species have characteristic forms the tip of fingers and toes, foot, position in membrane color tympanum (similar organs on ear frog) as well as parts of the stomach are different colors. L ingeri got more fingertips tapered, whereas the other two types of stretching. L ingeri also has black and underside of the tympanum color bertotol. Compared to the other two types, L ingeri have a mucous at foot of more expands (developed).

Ventral of leptobrachium nigrops. Leptobrachium ingeri and leptobrachium kanowitense.

In the meantime, L. nigrops have fingertips and mucous legs less-developed well. As for L. kanowitense typical because it has a light brown colored tympanum and abdomen white color without greater spotted.

From the side of the sound, the tone of L. nigrops voice is different from L ingeri note though frequency overlap. Some studies show that a characteristic type of Toad species complex sound is indeed not far different.

The formation of the species are complicated 

The fact that L. nigrops in fact is three different species make understanding the evolution of the three becoming increasingly complicated. Previously, known that the genus leptobrachium spread from china to southeastern asia and species of L nigrops formed.

Now with three different species, speciation involves at least two geological events associated with joining and splitting of Borneo up the Malay Peninsula and during the Miocene (15 million years ago) and Pliocene (about 5 million years ago). L. kanowitense first evolved into separate species, Amir admits that says that the process of speciation occurs when the first Borneo apart with Sumatra, Java and the Malay Peninsula.

After this separation, because of the dynamics of the altitude above sea level, Borneo then returned to fused but splitting again. "This process led to the isolation of habitats that triggers the speciation. ' Process the second time it is insulated which separates the ancestors of L. ingeri progenitor L. nigrops and each evolved into L. and L. nigrops ingeri." said Amir.

Evidence of the process can be seen from the spread of each type. Currently, L. ingeri in the coastal areas of Borneo distributed while L. kanowitense's first are in the Mainland. Population L. ingeri currently known also in Belitung.

Because the island of Borneo formed earlier than the formation of Belitung, then allegedly L. ingeri migrated from Borneo to the Belitung. Also, L. ingeri is expected to migrate to Sumatra. However, this really is still guesswork. The existence of that species need to be attested in the region of Sumatra, Karimata Strait, and the Natuna Islands. "If for example l. ingeri can be found in Sumatra, this will be able to test the validity of this hypothesis." says Amir who conducted the study as part of his dissertation at Kyoto University, Japan.

Two-Fold More 

Complex species L. nigrops could unravel is the form of contributions to molecular analysis techniques in current taxonomy. Various kinds of species that are difficult to identify in complex morphology is inexplicable.

If the molecular techniques continue to be used in studying frogs, Amir said, " I'm sure there will be more than doubled. Indeed not all types have a complex species, but for frogs, I'm sure each genus must have had complex species."

Molecular approaches in taxonomy makes the discovery of new species being tall is not surprising. Vietnam, for example, has a number of amphibian species is increased from 82 to 162 species in nine years from 1996 until 2005.

Indonesia currently has about 303 species of amphibians. The amount of wealth amphibians Indonesia is no.8 in the world, number 2 in Asia after china and no 1 in southeast Asia. Borneo own got 150 kind of amphibians.

Borneo own of the genus leptobrachium it has two kinds of which constitute its species complex, namely L. abbotti and L. montanum. Area indochina have species complex like L. smithi and L. chapaense.

With the wealth owned, Amir said that Indonesia should be able to be a leader in the study of biodiversity in South-East Asia. To that end, it is worth the Government's attention.

Source: Kompas.com