Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2007

The variations of forty-nine anuran samples in four mountain ranges in Mindanao, namely: Mt. Sinaka and Mt. Mahuson in Arakan, Cotabato, Mt. Malindang in Misamis Occidental and Mt. Haguimitan in Davao Oriental was studied. The assessment was based on 15 morphological traits, namely: dermal projections, dorso-lateral, supratympanic fold, crossbands on legs, tubercles and ridges on back, back surface, snout shape, body stature, belly and dorsal surface and coloration, toe and finger webbing, labial crossbars, pair of dark ocelli near groin and four longitudinal lines. Clustering methods were employed to include Parsinomy, Neighbor-joining and UPGMA, all software programs found in PHYLIP version 3.64. result showed that the three trees encoppass two major groups, Mesobatrachia represented only by one species, Megophrys stejnegeri, which has the highest genetic sistance of 0.08 and Neobatrachia represented by four families- Bufonidae, Microhylidae, Ranidae and Rhacophoridae-with genetic distance ranging from 0-0.01. Distinguishing characters of each species and even among individuals of the same species and varying dorsal colors were also notable. M. stejnegeri, having dermal projections, Kalophrynus pleurostigma, with dark ocelli near groin, Polypedates leucomystax, having four longitudinal lines and individuals of Mt. Haguimitan, formed distinct units in the trees. These data may possibly feed on the improvement and continuation and conservation efforts as phylogenetic information and idea on potential corridors could be considered in setting priorities for conservation. From here, it can be said that Philippine anuran is diverse