Around 2000, with molecular phylogenetic studies becoming commonplace, it was discovered that Fitzinger's assessment was correct after all – not only is Pelophylax an independent genus, but it does in fact belong to a lineage of Raninae not particularly close to Rana.

The sheer number of species involved in the group of Pelophylax and its closest relatives means that it will probably be some time until the definite circumscription of this genus is resolved.

And as regards the possible paraphyly of Pelophylax, it seems that some species assigned there are very close to Hylarana, and thus it might simply be a matter of moving them to that genus.

But hybridogenic speciation is running rampant in the Old World green frogs, and this obfuscates the data gained from DNA sequence analyses.

[4][5][6] Following the establishment of Pelophylax in Europe, their diversification appears to have been based around the expansion and contraction of the Paratethys Sea, which served as a geographic barrier to the dispersal of many taxa.

[10] This transport may potentially represent one of the largest amphibian invasions worldwide, despite being largely overlooked due to the close similarity between native and introduced Pelophylax.