50 
M. J. TYLER 
Conceivably Kyarranus does occur in the New 
Guinea highlands but has yet to be found there. 
This proposition is plausible when it is noted 
that the leptodactylid genus Mixophyes Gun¬ 
ther, with five members well-known from the 
rainforests of eastern Australia, has only re¬ 
cently been reported from New Guinea (Donel- 
lan et al. 1990). If such large and conspicuous 
frogs escaped attention, the absence of Kyar¬ 
ranus in New Guinea may be more apparent 
than real. 
The only area in Australia where the suite of 
genera reported from Riversleigh (Lechriodus, 
Limnodynastes Fitzinger, Crinia Girard, Litoria 
Tschudi and Kyarranus) coexist today is along 
the Queensland-New South Wales border. 
Three of the genera {Kyarranus, Lechriodus and 
Limnodynastes) share the habit of depositing 
ova in a foam nest. The last two (and Megisto- 
lotis) create the nest in an identical fashion 
(Tyler & Davies 1979), but the method in Kyar¬ 
ranus (and Philoria) has not been observed. 
Given the complexity of that behavioural ac¬ 
tivity, concepts of parsimony dictate that the 
habit evolved in a common ancestor. Eluci¬ 
dation of the Riversleigh frog fauna will clearly 
lead to an understanding of Oligo-Miocene en¬ 
vironments there. 
Cogger, Cameron & Cogger (1983) referred 
Kyarranus to the synonymy of the monotypic 
genus Philoria Spencer of Mt Baw Baw in Vic¬ 
toria but did not provide information to sub¬ 
stantiate that decision. Accordingly, the 
synonymy was not accepted by Frost (1985). 
Kyarranus is smaller than Philoria , and lacks the 
hypertrophied dermal glands of that genus. The 
genera also differ in the arrangement of several 
skull bones, as pointed out by Lynch (1971). The 
ilium of Philoria differs from that of Kyarranus 
in having a lower dorsal, acetabular expansion, a 
much less pronounced dorsal prominence and 
dorsal protuberance, and a reduced pre-acetabu- 
lar zone (Fig. 1). Given the inherent conserva¬ 
tism of the ilium, the distinctions listed above 
support the recognition of Kyarranus as distinct 
from Philoria. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
I thank Professor Michael Archer, Mr Henk 
Godthelp and Dr Suzanne Hand of the Univer¬ 
sity of Nevv South Wales for their continued aid 
and support in the preparation and isolation of 
material. 
The research program was funded by the Aus¬ 
tralian Research Grants Scheme. Mrs Veronica 
Reed and Miss Leanne Seller provided invalu¬ 
able support, whilst Ms Rachel Norris assisted in 
statistical analysis. Specimens of extant species 
were provided by Mr J. de Bavay (University of 
New England), Dr G. Ingram (Queensland 
Museum) and Mr Ross Sadlier (Australian 
Museum). Research facilities were provided by 
the University of Adelaide, and the manuscript 
was typed by Mrs L. Lucas. 
The materials upon which this study was 
based were obtained through the support of the 
following funding bodies and organisations to 
M. Archer, S. Hand and H. Godthelp: Australian 
Research Grants Scheme; Department of Arts, 
Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Terri¬ 
tories; National Estate Program Grant Scheme* 
Wang Computers Pty Ltd; Australian Geo¬ 
graphic Pty Ltd; Mount Isa Mines Pty Ltd; the 
Queensland Museum: the Australian Museum: 
the Royal Zoological Society of New South 
Wales; the Linnean Society of New South Wales: 
Ansett Wridgways Pty Ltd; Mount Isa Shire 
Council; the Riversleigh Society and the Friends 
of Riversleigh. 
REFERENCES 
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