Sardinian tree frog

Tyrrhenian tree frog ( Hyla sarda )

The Tyrrhenian tree frog ( Hyla sarda ) lives on the Mediterranean islands Capraia, Ile de Cavallo, Elba, Monte Christo, Corsica and Sardinia. By 1982, the species was still addressed as a subspecies Hyla arborea sarda. For the first time the species was described in 1857 by the Italian naturalist Edoardo De Betta. The Tyrrhenian tree frog was once asked by some authors on the nature Hyla savignyi, which is more in Western Asia (eg, Syria, Israel) spread. This systematic mapping has proved to be wrong.

Spread, spread

A geographically isolated island population, like that of Hyla sarda, created either by human naturalization ( invasive species ) or by massive geological changes. That can amphibians a floating self lying in the open sea islands to achieve is almost impossible, because the contact with salt water over time for this group of species normally is lethal ( exceptions: Rana cancrivora, Bufo viridis). Probably Hyla sarda has advanced over former land bridges from the northern half of the Apennine peninsula in the Tyrrhenis.

When the colonization of Tyrrhenis has actually taken place by the amphibians is difficult to fathom. In this context, several models are discussed among geologists. Thus passed several land bridges with the mainland of Europe until the early Quaternary (geology). Obviously even existed a continuous connection between the Apennine 's Peninsula, Sicily to North Africa. A person is considered certain that Sardinia and Corsica are " rotated" after the collapse of land bridges together by about 45 ° towards the Apennine peninsula (modern Italy ), where the rotation of Corsica before something came to a standstill. Presumably, during this period the indigenous herpetofauna on the Tyrrhenian islands already existent.

Hyla sarda is an extremely adaptable Froschlurch, who settled on the Mediterranean islands called the most diverse habitats. So the little tree frog inhabits both the reed zones of ponds and irrigation canals as well as the gallery forests along streams and rivers. Also in the settlement area you can find him occasionally. Here the deposits are closely linked to the existence of accessible water bodies such as tanks or wells, self- service building on campgrounds serve as a summer country habitat. The brackish water areas of large estuaries, such as the Stabiacco in Porto -Vecchio, Corsica, however, be avoided by the animals.