Kingdom Animalia Genus Discoglossus Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Alytidae Scientific name Discoglossus jeanneae Higher classification Discoglossus Order Frog | |
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Similar Discoglossus, Iberian painted frog, Frog, Betic midwife toad, Iberian parsley frog | ||
The Spanish painted frog (Discoglossus jeanneae, in Spanish sapillo pintojo meridional) is a species of frog in the family Alytidae (formerly Discoglossidae). It is endemic to Spain.
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Description
The Spanish painted frog is a medium-sized amphibian. The top of the frog is predominantly colored with dark browns in the form of spots or stripes, and its underbelly is usually white or yellow. The males will have webbing between their hind toes, but the webbing will not be found in females and adolescent males. During its mating season, the males will develop black calluses on the toe webbing, throat, belly and parts of the forefeet.
This frog is very closely related to the Iberian painted frog, but they differ in a couple of significant ways. The Spanish painted frog will have shorter snouts and smaller forefeet than their Iberian counterparts.
Distribution and habitat
The Spanish painted frog is endemic to the southern, eastern and north-eastern regions of Spain, but is more densely populated in the southern regions.
It mostly lives in open areas, pine groves and shrublands from sea level to roughly 2,000 meters.
Biology
Not much is known about the biology of the Spanish painted frog, but it is believed to be very similar to that of the Iberian painted frog. It is believed to be active year round. Eggs are usually laid in small, shallow bodies of water.
Its diet consists mostly of insects and worms, though they have also been known to eat the young of other frogs and toads. Most activity is done at night. The tadpoles eat plant material.
Status
The Spanish painted frog is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List. Its classification stems from a series of droughts throughout most of its range. There is a high chance that isolated populations have become extinct along the Mediterranean coast.