The Litoria ewingi complex (Anura : Hylidae) in south-eastern Australia I A new species from Victoria

Abstract

Populations of the L. ewingi complex in central and north-eastern Victoria are described as a new species (L. paraewingi) following a study of levels of reproductive isolation and morphological differentiation from other members of the complex. In the south the new species is broadly sympatric with L. verreauxi, but is contiguously allopatric with L. ewingi at the north-eastern and south-western borders of its distribution. Pre-mating isolating mechanisms between L, paraewingi and L. ewingi are not well developed; however, a high level of post-mating isolation exists between the two species. Morphological differences were found between L. paraewingi and populations of L. ewingi from southern Victoria and Tasmania, but populations in north-eastern Victoria are morphologically similar.