Pelobates syriacus
Syrian shovel toad
The Syrian shovel toad ( Pelobates syriacus ) is a Froschlurch and belongs to the genus of the European spadefoot ( Pelobates ) within the superfamily of toads frogs. With the sharp-edged, horny growths on the soles they may be like the other toads shovel to dig very quickly in loose soil where they spend the day. While the related spadefoot toad is a common, especially in Central and Eastern Europe type, the Syrian shovel Toad takes its " place " in the Balkans and into the Near East.
Features
The Syrian shovel toad has a body length of about 80 to 90 mm. The dorsal coloration is brown, gray or white with greenish upper dark brown spots. The belly is whitish colored and unspotted. The skin is smooth with few, often red-colored glandular warts.
The pupil is slit vertically and, unlike the spadefoot toad, the center of the head is not arched like a helmet. Like its relatives, the animal has large nicks webbed, the notch is even more pronounced than with other blade toads. It also has light brown hock on the soles, which are designed as hard grave blades.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Syrian shovel toad ranges from the southern Balkans to Iran. As a habitat, the animals prefer open, steppe -like landscapes ( coastal dunes or agricultural land ) and sparse forests; to spawn, she is drawn into deep, vegetated ponds, ditches and alluvial waters.
Way of life
The animals are nocturnal and hide during the day in self-dug Erdverstecken or under stones, in winter they are buried very deep in the ground. If contact occurs, but one smelling strongly of garlic defensive secretions from, at the same time they swell up and give off Schreck calls. In this behavior they resemble the closely related garlic toad.
The mating season is in February to March. The amplexus during mating occurs in the groin area of the female. The females give from 2000 to 4000 eggs, which hatch the tadpoles. This reach an enormous body length, usually with 9 to 11 ( maximum 20) centimeters.
System
The Syrian shovel toad and three closely related species of the genus European spadefoot ( Pelobates ) usually form an independent family Pelobatidae. This is in addition to the common spadefoot ( P. fuscus ) around the blade foot ( P. cultripes ) and the Moroccan knife base ( P. varaldii ).
Endangering
The Syrian shovel toad is classified in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN as not at risk ( "Least Concern" ), because it has a relatively large area of distribution and a relatively large total population is assumed. But there are regional threats from habitat destruction or pollution of water.