An Electrophoretic Analysis of the Hemoglobin of Japanese Toads

Abstract

An electrophoretic analysis of the hemoglobin of Japanese toads, Bufo bufo japonicus, B. b, formosus, and B. torrenticola was made from the taxonomic point of view. B. torrenticola had one hemoglobin component, irrespective of age and sex, whereas B. b. formosus had two components, one of which is identical with that of B. torrenticola. The banding pattern of B. b. japonicus, showing either one or two hemoglobin components, is identical either with B. torrenticola or B. b. formosus, respectively. This variation in B. b. japonicus seems to indicate the existence of polymorphism within a population. Systematic relationships between these forms and European B. b, bufo were examined in the light of hemoglobin components and other non-biochemical evidences, and it was concluded that the Japanese group have diverged considerably from the European species. INTRODUCTION Biochemical approaches, when adopted in combination with other methods, can be useful in understanding the systematic relations of toads (Matsui, 1974). The most prevalent biochemical technique is the electrophoretic method, with which extensive comparative studies have been made on toads of the genus Bufo (Guttman, 1972). As to the Japanese toads, however, knowlede of biochemical variation among them is still very poor. In this paper will be reported the results of the electrophoretic analysis of the homoglobin of three forms of the Japanese toad. This study was made as a part of an allround investigation to clarify the phylogenetic relationships within Bufo bufo species group. MATERIALS AND METHODS The materials examined were 11 individuals of three forms of toads: the Japanese Japanese Journal of Herpetogy 7(1): 15-19. 1977.