76
A. R. MAIN
breeding call, belonged in the same group of species as C. insignifera.
However, it wits found sympatrically with both C. signifera and
C. parinsignifera. In all localities male calls were distinct and no intergrading calls were found. Data from in witro crosses (Littlejohn, 1958:
226) are inconclusive but the field data and male call indicate that
C. s h n e i is a distinct species with B limited geographical distribution
(Littlejohn, 1969, Fig. 1).
(vi) Crinia tinnula. Straughan and Main (1966) showed that in the
coastal swampy “Wallum” country in south-eastern Queensland a
Crinia with a distinct male breeding call was found. The range of this
species W ~ L B largely allopatric to that of both C. parinsignifera and
C. signifera. However, there were places where the ranges of the three
species were contiguous or overlapped slightly. In these places all three
species maintained their morphological identities and male calls showed
no intergmdes. When C. parinsignifera males were crossed to C. tinnula
developmental defects such as failure to include yolk occurred. When
C. signifera male was crossed to C. tinnula female similar defects were
observed but decidedly fewer larvae hatched (Straughan and Main,
1966). From these results it has been concluded that C. tinnula is both
biologically and morphologically distinct.
(Vii) Crinia riparia. Littlejohn and Martin (1965) recognised this
species because of its distinctive male breeding a l l . There are slight
morphological differences between C. riparia, C. pri?zaigniferu and
C . signifera. No hybridisation experiments have been made.
(wiii) Conclusions. The foregoing results have been taken to indicate
that the ecologically wide ranging genus Crinia is composed of a large
number of similar looking but reproductively and biologically distinctive populations which I have regarded &B species.
IV. EVOLUTION
No fossil record is known from which the evolution of frogs within
Australia can be reconstructed. Nevertheless an attempt to derive an
hypothesis is required so that:
(1) The origin of frogs of New Guinea a 5 i t i e s (Rum, Nyctimystes,
Cqlphixalus, Sphenqlphryne) in north-eaet Queenslend can be accounted
for.
(2) The origin, age and relationship of the frogs of the wet forests and
the deserts can be postulated.
(3) The series of closely related species in the genera Neobatmehus,
Heleiopmw, Pseudophryne and Crinia in south-western Western
Australia can be accounted for.
Straughan and Main (1966) have discussed the peculiar distribution
A. R. MAIN
breeding call, belonged in the same group of species as C. insignifera.
However, it wits found sympatrically with both C. signifera and
C. parinsignifera. In all localities male calls were distinct and no intergrading calls were found. Data from in witro crosses (Littlejohn, 1958:
226) are inconclusive but the field data and male call indicate that
C. s h n e i is a distinct species with B limited geographical distribution
(Littlejohn, 1969, Fig. 1).
(vi) Crinia tinnula. Straughan and Main (1966) showed that in the
coastal swampy “Wallum” country in south-eastern Queensland a
Crinia with a distinct male breeding call was found. The range of this
species W ~ L B largely allopatric to that of both C. parinsignifera and
C. signifera. However, there were places where the ranges of the three
species were contiguous or overlapped slightly. In these places all three
species maintained their morphological identities and male calls showed
no intergmdes. When C. parinsignifera males were crossed to C. tinnula
developmental defects such as failure to include yolk occurred. When
C. signifera male was crossed to C. tinnula female similar defects were
observed but decidedly fewer larvae hatched (Straughan and Main,
1966). From these results it has been concluded that C. tinnula is both
biologically and morphologically distinct.
(Vii) Crinia riparia. Littlejohn and Martin (1965) recognised this
species because of its distinctive male breeding a l l . There are slight
morphological differences between C. riparia, C. pri?zaigniferu and
C . signifera. No hybridisation experiments have been made.
(wiii) Conclusions. The foregoing results have been taken to indicate
that the ecologically wide ranging genus Crinia is composed of a large
number of similar looking but reproductively and biologically distinctive populations which I have regarded &B species.
IV. EVOLUTION
No fossil record is known from which the evolution of frogs within
Australia can be reconstructed. Nevertheless an attempt to derive an
hypothesis is required so that:
(1) The origin of frogs of New Guinea a 5 i t i e s (Rum, Nyctimystes,
Cqlphixalus, Sphenqlphryne) in north-eaet Queenslend can be accounted
for.
(2) The origin, age and relationship of the frogs of the wet forests and
the deserts can be postulated.
(3) The series of closely related species in the genera Neobatmehus,
Heleiopmw, Pseudophryne and Crinia in south-western Western
Australia can be accounted for.
Straughan and Main (1966) have discussed the peculiar distribution