A test for correct species declaration of frog legs imports from Indonesia into the European Union
Frozen frog legs that had been shipped from Indonesia into the European Union were biochemically compared to reference muscle samples from wild Indonesian frog populations of different species. Frozen frog leg samples only allowed for the analysis of eight allozyme loci, two of which were polymorphic. The analyses clearly showed that all frog legs, despite their initial species declaration as Limnonectes macrodon, L. cancrivorus, L. limnocharis and Rana catesbeiana, all belonged to L. cancrivorus. Unless misclassification was intentional, it seems that Indonesian frog leg exporters are not able to discriminate between the species in trade. However, this ability should be the basis for a sustainable use of this wildlife resource. A test for management authorities is needed to monitor the international trade in frog legs.