titi
A. R. WAIN
Strauyhan and Main (1 066) have shown that among freshly metamorphosed frogs of C . tinnula ridged animals are on the average larger
and have a greater range in size than lyrate animals (p L . 0.01).
Moore (1981) has shown that the frequency of morphs changes over
the geographical range of the species. Straughan and Maiu (1966,
Table IV) confirincd these findings i t t d with very small samples of
C . parinvignifera huve sliowu t hut otily the ridge niorldi occurs in tho
warmer localities where perhaps ponds are I~otter ctiid more ephemeral.
These same authors (op. cit. Table ILL) suggest that oiily the ridged
morph is found at Lake Mountain, Victoria, because breeding is prevented by snow in winter and spring so that in summer when breeding
is possible larvae have to survive in shallow pools on top of the
sphagnilm where daytime water temperatures ranged from 28.6 to
32.6"C. Either the water temperature or the shortness of time that
water stays in the pond haa selected for the ridged animals alone.
In Western Australia populations composed exclusively of the ridged
morph &re unknown. However, there are isdated populations at the
eastern extreme of the range of C. p~eudimiqnifera which are composed
exclusively of the lyrate morph (Frog Kock 119" 12" 31" 30'5; Lake
Cronin 119" 46% 32" 23's; Bushfire Rock 119" 23'E 32" 26'5). Nearby
but more weeterly populations (King Rock 119" OE'E 32" 39'5) have
both morphs in the frequency (c. 8404 lyrate) typical of the southern
central part of the range of C. pseudinsignijera (Main, unpublished).
The morph frequencies in C . insignifera tend to follow the distribution of $he two races of this species. The frequency of the lyrate morph
is low in the "sand" race (42-45'/, lyrate) and high in the "clay" race
(58-71 yo). Walker (1966) has shown that in C. ii~eignifera the frequency
of the lyrate morph is associated with the length of time that the ponds
hold water, so that where ponds fill late or dry prematurely the lyrate
morph tends to be rare. Conversely when ponds fill early and persist.
throughout the winter, lyrate is common.
111. SYSTEMATICS
Diiring the ecological studies there have been repeated occasions
when the Npecies status of populations has been in question. Clearly
the ecological interpretation will be inadequate if the taxonomic basis
is faulty. Consequently the species status has been determined for all
populations used in the ecological work.
The present systematic disposition of Western Australian frogs is
summarised by Main (1965a). However, there is no current compilation
setting out the evidence for systematic relationships within the genera
Heleioparus, Neobatraehus, and Crinia in which sibling species have
A. R. WAIN
Strauyhan and Main (1 066) have shown that among freshly metamorphosed frogs of C . tinnula ridged animals are on the average larger
and have a greater range in size than lyrate animals (p L . 0.01).
Moore (1981) has shown that the frequency of morphs changes over
the geographical range of the species. Straughan and Maiu (1966,
Table IV) confirincd these findings i t t d with very small samples of
C . parinvignifera huve sliowu t hut otily the ridge niorldi occurs in tho
warmer localities where perhaps ponds are I~otter ctiid more ephemeral.
These same authors (op. cit. Table ILL) suggest that oiily the ridged
morph is found at Lake Mountain, Victoria, because breeding is prevented by snow in winter and spring so that in summer when breeding
is possible larvae have to survive in shallow pools on top of the
sphagnilm where daytime water temperatures ranged from 28.6 to
32.6"C. Either the water temperature or the shortness of time that
water stays in the pond haa selected for the ridged animals alone.
In Western Australia populations composed exclusively of the ridged
morph &re unknown. However, there are isdated populations at the
eastern extreme of the range of C. p~eudimiqnifera which are composed
exclusively of the lyrate morph (Frog Kock 119" 12" 31" 30'5; Lake
Cronin 119" 46% 32" 23's; Bushfire Rock 119" 23'E 32" 26'5). Nearby
but more weeterly populations (King Rock 119" OE'E 32" 39'5) have
both morphs in the frequency (c. 8404 lyrate) typical of the southern
central part of the range of C. pseudinsignijera (Main, unpublished).
The morph frequencies in C . insignifera tend to follow the distribution of $he two races of this species. The frequency of the lyrate morph
is low in the "sand" race (42-45'/, lyrate) and high in the "clay" race
(58-71 yo). Walker (1966) has shown that in C. ii~eignifera the frequency
of the lyrate morph is associated with the length of time that the ponds
hold water, so that where ponds fill late or dry prematurely the lyrate
morph tends to be rare. Conversely when ponds fill early and persist.
throughout the winter, lyrate is common.
111. SYSTEMATICS
Diiring the ecological studies there have been repeated occasions
when the Npecies status of populations has been in question. Clearly
the ecological interpretation will be inadequate if the taxonomic basis
is faulty. Consequently the species status has been determined for all
populations used in the ecological work.
The present systematic disposition of Western Australian frogs is
summarised by Main (1965a). However, there is no current compilation
setting out the evidence for systematic relationships within the genera
Heleioparus, Neobatraehus, and Crinia in which sibling species have