Pyrenean frog
Pyrenees frog ( Rana pyrenaica )
The Pyrenees frog ( Rana pyrenaica ) is a southwestern European amphibian species from the genus of the Real frogs, which was first described in 1993. Until then, the animals were no different from other brown frogs, especially the frog, distinguished. The range of the species is limited to a very small region in the Pyrenees.
Features
The Pyrenees frog reaches a body length of about 45 to 50 mm, the males have a maximum length of about 46 and the females of about 51 mm. The ground color of the back and flanks olive-gray and creamy white with indistinct dark spots, which individually a drawing in the form of an inverted " V " may be present. Also red-brown specimens occur. The belly is pale with a pink - gray area below the throat. The belly color varies seasonally from yellowish to bluish in spring in summer; during the spawning season the bottoms of the relatively long hind legs are also red. The skin of the body is smooth and warzenlos.
The head is broader than long and the distance between the proximal end of the front head nostrils greater than that between the eyes. The eye color is golden yellow with dark spots; a dark face mask is available, but only dimly discernible. The outer eardrum is only small and inconspicuous trained.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Pyrenean frog is restricted to a very small area in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain. This is between Ordesa in the Spanish province of Huesca and the Roncal valley in Navarra.
The individual populations are separated and living at altitudes 800-1800 m. They are limited to habitats with flowing water, while they are not found in lakes or ponds. Preference is cold, oxygen-rich waters with stony ground and low vegetation density.
Way of life
The frogs are diurnal, with the main activity periods from February to July and range depend strongly on the temperature. These are during the active phases from 3.7 to 20.3 ° C. While juveniles mainly live in the shore area, the adult frogs are largely in the water.
The spawning phase begins with the melting of snow in February to April. During this time, the males call with a quiet and not far audible grunt. The females lay up to 150 eggs in several Eipaketen under stones or in other water structures; the eggs do not float to the surface due to their specific weight. They have a diameter of about 3.2 mm and consist of a transparent gelatinous mass, in which the dark embryos are visible. The hatching tadpoles have a length of about 10.6 mm.
Endangering
The Pyrenees frog is classified in the red list of endangered species by the IUCN as endangered ( " Endangered " ) because he has a very small distribution area of only about 2400 km ², which is also highly fragmented. Regional stocks are decreasing and in some areas of Huesca, the frog is already extinct. Among the sources of risk include artificial fish stocking and the pollution and destruction of water habitats.