Karpathos water frog
| Karpathos water frog | ||||||||||||
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Karpathian water frog ( Pelophylax cerigensis ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Pelophylax cerigensis | ||||||||||||
| ( Beerli , Hotz , Tunner , Heppich & Uzzell , 1994) |
The Karpathian water frog ( Pelophylax cerigensis or Rana cerigensis ) belongs to the family of real frogs (Ranidae) within the order of the frog auger. In addition, it is counted according to appearance, way of life and relationships to the water frogs , which are now placed by many authors in their own genus Pelophylax . The systematic status is discussed controversially; it may not be a separate species after all. It can only be found on the Greek islands of Karpathos and Rhodes off the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
features
The Karpathian water frog is similar to other forms of the water frog complex. A clear demarcation is primarily possible using molecular biological characteristics. So far only very few individuals have been recorded more precisely and described morphologically.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Karpathos water frog is limited to the Greek islands of Karpathos and Rhodes. The frog on Karpathos has only been reliably detected on a small, stony, largely dry river near the town of Olimbos . On Rhodes you can find it in wooded heights, where it populates fast flowing, flat brooks with reeds and bushes. These too often dry out in summer.
Systematics
The Karpathos water frog belongs to the complex of forms of the water frogs ( Pelophylax ), which has not yet been systematically processed and is difficult to determine due to the diverse hybrid formations . Pelophylax cerigensis itself is considered a form with an unexplained systematic status. Various molecular biological and landscape historical findings suggest that water frogs from Rhodes and Karpathos originally came from Anatolia and were naturalized by humans. A final assessment of the species status of the Karpathos water frog is currently not possible.
Hazards and protective measures
The Karpathos water frog is classified as endangered in the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species , because it has a relatively small range of less than 5000 km² and this is highly fragmented. In addition, an increasing deterioration of its habitats is noted. The main threat to this taxon comes from the loss of suitable bodies of water due to pollution and drainage through agriculture, tourism and the settlement of its habitat. Protected areas have been designated for this species and research programs are ongoing to determine further protection measures for this species.
supporting documents
- ↑ Jörg Plötner: The West Palearctic Water Frogs - From Martyrs of Science to Biological Sensation . Supplement to the magazine f. Feldherpetologie 9, Bielefeld 2005. ISBN 3-933066-26-3
- ↑ Pelophylax cerigensis in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2009. Posted by: Beerli, P. & Uzzell, T., 2008.
