Discoglossus pictus
Painted Disc- ( Discoglossus pictus)
The Painted Disc- ( Discoglossus pictus ) is a Froschlurch from the family of Disc- ( Discoglossidae ).
Description
The species reaches a head -body length of five to seven ( rare: eight) centimeters, in which the males are slightly larger on average. The snout on the flat, broad head is tapered blunt; the body is stocky something. The toes are webbed. The tongue is fused as in all Disco Glos Siden disc-shaped and with the oral cavity floor. The pupils are vertical slit -shaped to " reversed teardrop-shaped " in daylight; external eardrums are usually only dimly discernible. From the eye to the shoulder of a long narrow glandular complex. Even in the middle of the back there are small warts and glandular strips, while the rest of the skin is smooth rather like a frog. The top side has drawing patterns that can be reddish, yellowish, grayish - green, bronze or brownish colored. The species occurs into three variations before: Animals that are uniformly colored, copies of which are characterized by dark, large, bright -lined spots and animals with two dark brown longitudinal bands, and a bright band across the back and two light bands on the sides. The underside is whitish. The males develop during the mating season dark colored Bruns Wielen sealed to the inside of fingers and dark calluses, among others, in the chin and chest area.
Discoglossus pictus looks very similar, in particular the Iberian Disc- (D. galganoi ); this was therefore very late recognized and described as a separate species. In older literature, yet a much larger area of distribution is shown on the Iberian Peninsula because of this for the Disc- Painted.
Dissemination
The nominate Discoglossus pictus pictus lives in Malta, Gozo and Sicily - there until at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. The subspecies D. p. auritus is originally present in northern Algeria and Tunisia. It was apparently introduced to southern France, where the animals then spread out over the Pyrenees to northern Catalonia (Spain). Earlier another subspecies, D. p. scovazzi from Morocco and the Spanish North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, is recently considered as a separate species Moroccan Disc- ( Discoglossus scovazzi ).
Habitat and behavior
As habitats are stagnant and flowing waters and open areas near settlements and vineyards. Disc- are diurnal and nocturnal, hiding during the day but mostly under stones. The mating season ranges - at least in North Africa - January-November. The up to 1000 eggs per female are also stored individually in small Laichklümpchen of 20 to 50 eggs or sometimes in brackish water, where they are fertilized by the male inguinal clinging externally. The tadpoles hatch after two to six days. The metamorphosis into land animal takes place after one to three months. The diet of adult animals consists of insects, mollusks, earthworms and spiders.
Species protection
Legal protection status (selection)
- Fauna-Flora -Habitat Directive ( FFH Directive ) Annex IV ( strictly protected species )
- Federal Nature Conservation Act ( Federal Nature Conservation Act ): strictly protected