Friday 24 May
In the News: Amphibians in the U.S. declining at alarming rate

What’s the World’s Favourite Species?
Find out here.| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Discoglossidae |
| Genus | Alytes (1) |
This unusual toad gains its name from the fact that males care for the developing eggs (2). Adults have a large head and long legs in relation to the body, the eyes are large and golden with a narrow vertical pupil (2). The skin is usually golden-brown in colour with a number of darker brown, green or black blotches, whilst the underparts are off-white (6). There is often a black triangle between the eyes. Males and females are difficult to distinguish from their appearance (2).
The Mallorcan midwife toad has an unusual breeding system. Intense competition for males occurs amongst females, who grapple with each other over mates (3). In common with other members of this unusual genus, males carry the developing eggs until the tadpoles hatch (3). Males carrying eggs are seen in May and June, with between 7 and 12 eggs wrapped around their ankles in strings (3). The first tadpoles hatch in May, measuring around 18 mm in length. Tadpoles metamorphose any time from late June to September and some may even over-winter as tadpoles and metamorphose the following summer (6). Males produce a high-pitched 'pi...pi...pi' call, which attracts females and may help to stimulate the maturation of eggs by the female (2); females also vocalise to advertise when they are receptive (3). Adults are generally active at night and they do not hibernate (3).
TopEndemic to Mallorca, an island off the east coast of Spain (2), this toad is currently found in gorges (4) in the Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains (2). The distribution was once considerably larger than at present; recent surveys estimate there may now be as few as 500 breeding pairs remaining (4).
TopThis toad inhabits inaccessible brooks in limestone gorges and hides under stones and in crevices (2).
TopClassified as Vulnerable (VU D2) on the IUCN Red List 2004 (1).
TopThis species was identified from fossils in the 1970s and was believed to have become extinct 2000 years ago, incredibly however, surviving populations were discovered in 1980 (3). Since then this toad has decreased markedly in abundance and range. The decline in the Mallorcan midwife toad was the result of the introduction to the island of competitors and predators such as the viperine snake (Natrix maura), which predates on both adult toads and tadpoles, and the green frog (Rana perezi) (4) that competes for food (2). Increased demands for water due to the large number of tourists visiting the island places pressure on mountain water resources, and a number of schemes have proposed to dam the rivers in which this toad lives. A further threat arises from the small size of the remaining population, which places the species at risk of extinction from chance catastrophic events (2).
TopA conservation project is underway, with cooperation between the Mallorcan Consellaria de Medi Ambient, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at Kent University and the Barcelona Zoo (5) (6). The species breeds well in captivity and reintroductions have been taking place since 1988, with several breeding populations already successfully established as a result (4). Annual surveys are taking place and a reserve has been proposed to help protect the species (4). The number of suitable sites for reintroduction is limited, so work is currently focusing on the creation of new pools (4). With such concerted conservation efforts, the future of this fascinating species may well be secured, at least for the present.
TopFor more information on the Mallorcan midwife toad see:
Information authenticated (12/6/03) by Richard Gibson, Curator of Herpetology, Zoological Society of London.
http://www.zsl.org
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Image credit
© Bert Willaert
Bert Willaert
bert.willaert@gmail.com
http://www.bertwillaert.com
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