Variation in the Ribbed Frog Ascaphus truei Stejneger
Metter DE. 1967. Variation in the Ribbed Frog Ascaphus truei Stejneger. Copeia. 1967(3):634-649
Morphological comparisons of adult and larval Ascaphus from 17 areas indicate that significant differences exist between most populations. There is no correlation between the amount of difference between populations and their geographical location which would justify the recognition of subspecies. Adjacent populations are frequently as distinct as populations from widely separated areas. The development or suppression of some morphological characters appears to be due to adaptation to the local habitat. Three populations of Ascaphus from the Cascade Mountains and all inland populations exhibit a three-year larval period. Other Cascade, and all coastal populations, show a two-year larval period, which appears to be genetically controlled. Breeding, egg deposition, hatching, and transformation seasons appear to be consistent throughout the range. Adults do not leave the streams unless the relative humidity is high, and their activity is almost exclusively nocturnal.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Metter, Dean
- Units
- GLAC
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Morphology, Tailed frog (Ascaphus truei)