Frogs croak into separate species, according to an article in Nature, vol. 444, p4 2 Nov 2006. An Amazonian frog named Physalaemus petersi appears to be splitting into two species according to the type of mating call made by the males. A team of researchers led by Chris Funk of the US geological Survey has studied the genetics of the frog population and found that gene flow is 30 times lower between populations with the different calls compared to gene flow within the two call groups. This indicates that females have distinct preference for one call or the other and only mate with males of the same call. According to Nature, “Speciation by sexual selection, although supported by theory, is hard to catch in action.”
Editorial Comment: Speciation by any form of selection is hard to catch in action, but it has been observed. However, separating a large and varied group of animals into two smaller, less varied groups is not evolution. The frogs are still frogs, and show no sign of becoming any other type of creature. Selection and speciation are real processes, but they are simply sorting out processes. They cannot produce new, different and more complex creatures. (Ref. genetics, amphibians, reproduction)
Evidence News 21 May 2008