Recently Extinct Animals - Species Info - Palestinian Painted Frog

Discoglossus nigriventer

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Kingdom

Animalia

Copyright: Kevin J. Caley / Biodiversity Consortium 1997 .

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Amphibia

Order

Anura

Family

Discoglossidae

English Name

Palestinian Painted Frog, Israel Painted Frog

Dutch Name

Palestijnse Schijftongkikker

Finnish Name

Israelinlevykielisammakko

German Name

Schwarzbäuchiger Scheibenzüngler

Authority

Mendelssohn & Steinitz, 1943

Comments

The right-hand image is a reconstruction of the Palestinian Painted Frog, made by Kevin J. Caley.

Characteristics

The Palestinian Painted Frog has a dark belly with small white spots. The colour pattern is as follows: ochre above and rust colour grading into dark olive-grey to greyish-black. It differs from the Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus) with its greater interocular distance, longer forelimbs, and a less projecting snout. See at ‘relatives’ for a picture of Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus).

Range & Habitat

This species was known from the eastern shores of the Hula wetlands (Lake Hula) in Northern Israel, and possible in adjacent parts of Syria (Syrian Arab Republic). The species inhabited freshwater swamp areas.

History & Population

The wetlands where this species relied on were drained for mainly agricultural purposes in the 1950’s like making the land suitable for agriculture, but also in an attempt to eradicate malaria. Of the original 6000 ha of wetlands, only an area of 320 ha has remained Although this remaining area was set aside as a nature reserve in 1964, this could not prevent the extinction of certain endemic species, including the Palestinian Painted Frog. This species has not been reported since 1955, when Steinitz collected it.

Extinction Causes

This amphibian became extinct, due to general alteration, loss, and drainage of their habitat.

Museum Specimens

Of this species only 2 specimens exist. One type specimen, collected by Mendelssohn in 1940, and 1 collected by Steinitz in 1955. The 2 tadpoles para-types have been lost.

Relatives

The Iberian Painted Frog (Discoglossus hispanicus) from Spain and Portugal. The Spanish Painted Frog (Discoglossus jeanneae) from Spain. The Corsican Painted Frog (Discoglossus montalenti) from France (Corsica). The Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus) from Algeria, southern France, Italy (Sicily), Malta (inclusive Gozo), Morocco, Spain, Tunisia. The Tyrrhenian Painted Frog (Discoglossus sardus) from Italy (Sardinia, Magdalena Archipelago, San Pietro Island, and Monte Argentario Peninsula in Tuscany), France (Corsica and several islands of the Tyrrhenian sea: Iles d'Hyčres, Giglio, Montecristo).

Amphibia Web - Discoglossus hispanicus - Iberian Painted Frog.

Amphibia Web - Discoglossus jeanneae - Spanish Painted Frog.

Amphibia Web - Discoglossus montalenti - Corsican Painted Frog.

Amphibia Web - Discoglossus pictus - Painted Frog.

Amphibia Web - Discoglossus sardus - Tyrrhenian Painted Frog.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Species Information - Discoglossus montalenti.

Corsican Painted Frog (Discoglossus montalenti)

© 2003 Arie van der Meijden. This photo may be freely used for any non-commercial purpose, but please include copyright information with the photo and credit Arie van der Meijden. For commercial use, or for other questions, contact Arie van der Meijden, Email.

Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus)

This picture is taken from the website: Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe, http://www.herp.it/.

Tyrrhenian Painted Frog (Discoglossus sardus)

© 2003 Franco Andreone. This photo may be freely used for any non-commercial purpose, but please include copyright information with the photo and credit Franco Andreone. For commercial use, or for other questions, contact Franco Andreone, Email.

Links

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Species Information - Discoglossus nigriventer.

Amphibia Web - Discoglossus nigriventer - Palestinian Painted Frog.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe.

Do you know a website of page about this species? Please e-mail me!

Last updated: 2^nd May 2009.