Karpathos Frog
Karpathos Frog ( Pelophylax cerigensis )
The Karpathos Frog ( Rana Pelophylax cerigensis or cerigensis ) is within the order of Anura to the family of the Real frogs ( Ranidae ). In addition, he is expected to follow appearance, biology and distribution of the water frogs, which are now provided by many authors in a separate genus Pelophylax. The systematic status is controversial; maybe it is not a stand-alone article, you can be found exclusively on the Greek islands of Karpathos and Rhodes before the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
Features
The Karpathos Frog is similar to other forms of water frog complex. A clear distinction is made possible primarily through molecular biological characteristics. So far, very few individuals were more accurate recorded and described morphologically.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Karpathos - water frog restricted to the Greek islands of Karpathos and Rhodes. Here, the frog has been proven to Karpathos only on a small, rocky, mostly dry river near the town Olimbos safe. In Rhodes you can find him in wooded altitudes, where he quickly settled flowing, shallow streams with reeds and bushes. These dry out in summer often.
System
The Karpathos Frog belongs to the complex shape of the water frogs ( Pelophylax ), which is systematically not yet completely processed and is difficult to detect due to the many generations of hybrids. Pelophylax cerigensis itself is a form with unexplained systematic status. Various molecular biological and landscape historical findings suggest that water frogs of Rhodes and Karpathos, originally from Anatolia and were naturalized by man. However, a final assessment of the species status of Karpathos - water frog is currently not possible.
Threats and conservation measures
The Karpathos Frog is classified in the red list of endangered species by the IUCN as endangered ( " Endangered " ) because it has a relatively small area of distribution of less than 5,000 km ², and this is highly fragmented. Moreover, a growing deterioration of its habitat is found. The main threat to this taxon is based on the loss of suitable waters from pollution and drainage by agriculture, tourism and the colonization of its habitat. For this type of protection areas have been established and it run research programs to further protective measures for this type defined.