Hybridization within the Rana ridibunda Complex of North Africa

Abstract Cellogel electrophoretic study of the plasma protein pattern, especially the albumin fractions, and microdensitometric determination of erythrocyte nuclear DNA amount in 25 frogs of the Rana ridibunda complex from different localities in Morocco and Algeria allows the conclusion that two different forms of this complex are hybridizing in North Africa, as it is found in the Rana esculenta complex in Europe or in the East Asian green frogs. These forms can be identified by their albumin alleles, but not yet by their morphology. They produce mainly triploid hybrids.