Iberian parsley frog
Iberian Mud divers ( Pelodytes ibericus )
The Iberian Mud divers ( Pelodytes ibericus ) is in the south of the Iberian Peninsula widespread, very delicate Froschlurch from the extensive family only three types of mud diver ( Pelodytidae ). His first description dates back to 2000 and is thus for a European vertebrate species unusually recent. Until then, the species was not isolated as such by the Western Mud divers ( Pelodytes punctatus ). Because of their external similarity exists today apparently not available in all regions of Spain and Portugal clarity about the species membership Pelodytes local populations. The closest relatives of mud divers are American spadefoot toads as well as in Europe, the local frogs like garlic toad or knife base.
Features
Mud divers are small anurans with relatively long hind legs, a flat head and protruding eyes with vertical slit pupils. The Iberian mud divers reaches a head -body length of up to 41.5 millimeters, the males remain quite small. Compared to the slightly increasing Western mud diver the muzzle appears slightly wider and less elongated or rounded in side profile. The limbs and the limbs are slightly shorter than this. The gray, sometimes greenish staining of smooth to granular top surface is interrupted by olive, oval spots. In some individuals, two pale intersecting strips forming an "X " pattern. In addition, there are sublime " warts " on the back. The smooth-skinned belly is white to cream. The inner hock under the sole of the foot is in contrast to Pelodytes punctatus not round, but a conical shape; Webbed toes are barely trained. The visible during the mating season at the finger and forearm insides Bruns sealed Wielen the males have a brown to blackish color. Furthermore, the males have paired internal vocal sacs, which they silently generate, expressed underwater mating calls.
Dissemination
The range of the species includes southern Spain - Andalusia with ( without its eastern part ) and the south of Extremadura - as well as the south and probably also the center of Portugal. Vertical, it extends almost from sea level to about 1450 m above sea level in the province of Granada ( according to other sources: up to 900 m in the Sierra Morena). The exact delimitation area, including to the Western mud diver, but further studies, especially in Northeast Andalusia and Portugal needed. In regions such as the lowlands of Huelva and Cádiz type is more common in other parts of the distribution area rather scattered to rare.
Habitat and behavior
Iberian mud divers inhabit open to bushy, rather dry landscapes that are structured around by interspersed, light pine forests or with fragments of Macchien. Also intensive farmed agricultural land and brackish marshes are not generally shunned. Here are the animals, in contrast to most European amphibians, apparently more or less active all year round - with activity maxima toward the winter months than in the hot and dry summer months. You can sometimes seasonal spawning several phases depending on richer precipitation events have - which is the case especially from October to April, and especially from November to January. For oviposition and larval development weedy ponds, water-filled lanes, ditches, lagoons and other shallow, often temporary, sunlit water points are used. The reproductive biology is similar to that of the Western mud diver. Are characteristic in the context including a Amplexus in the lumbar region of the female and the delivery of short spawning cords that are attached to straws and similar structures in the water.
The daily activity of the type generally focuses on the evening and night hours; in foraging insects and other invertebrates are captured.
Threats and conservation
The total population of the species classifies the IUCN in their Red List of international acceptance, despite local trends yet with "LC" ( safely ) a. At least in the Spanish Doñana National Park and Sierra Nevada is also a habitat protection. As risk factors in addition to man-made interference and loss of habitats, especially the spawning grounds, and artificial restocking with some exotic fish species are considered. This decimate the spawning and especially the tadpoles of mud diver.
Legal protection status
- Federal Species Protection Ordinance ( BArtSchV ): specially protected
- Bern Convention: Annex III
Sources and further information
The article in the version of 11 November 2007, created mainly using the listed under " Web Links " and called for that date English-language websites of " AmphibiaWeb.org " and " iucnredlist.org ".