Biochemical genetic investigations of introgressive hybridization and systematic relationships in the spadefoot toads, genus Scaphiopus

Date

1978-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is to more thoroughly document hybridization and possible introgression between the spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus bombifrons and S_. multiplicatus, using starch gel electrophoresis. Analysis of mating call recordings (Blair, 1955; Bogert, 1960) first suggested the possibility of hybridization between these species. This possibility was further investigated in northwestern Texas oy Forester (1973). On the basis of mating call analysis he classified 6.3% of the animals as natural hybrids and 10.9% as backcross progeny. The two forms have also been found to be compatible in experimental crosses. Interspecific crosses were 78-97% as successful as intraspecific crosses (Littlejohn, 1959; Wasserman, 1964; H. Brown, 1967; Forester, 1969). Forester (1969) found laboratory raised F, hybrid males to exhibit an average fertility of 61.9% as compared with controls.

Description

Keywords

Scaphiopus, Hybridization, Biochemical genetics

Citation