Amphibian

Tritó del Montseny

atenea — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 20:04:43 +0000

Montseny brook newt

The Montseny brook is an amphibian species from the Montseny that can only be found in this Catalan Massif, in a very small distribution area of only 25 km2, and it is the only vertebrate endemic to Catalonia. It has only been spotted in seven streams, distributed in two populations, which are four kilometres from each other.

atenea Sun, 12/11/2016 - 21:04

Calotriton arnoldi

It lives in mountain streams of cold highly-oxygenated waters, preferably in beech and oak forests, between 600 and 1,200 metres of altitude.

Degree of risk

Critically endangered

Class

Amphibia

Order

Caudata

Family

Salamandridae

5 - 10 g

8 - 11 cm

More than 10 years

Habitat

Fresh water

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Insectivorous

Oviparous

Days

30 - 40 days

Baby

30 - 40 eggs

Description

Its length does not exceed 11 centimetres and has a brownish hue on the back, with small yellow spots on the tail sides, as well as cream coloured underparts. Its sexual dimorphism is low: males have slightly bigger and wider heads than females and their tail is shorter and higher. The main difference is in the cloaca, where females have a slightly prominent and round protuberance.

Habitat

It lives in mountain streams of cold highly-oxygenated waters, preferably in beech and oak forests, between 600 and 1,200 metres of altitude.

Feeding

It feeds on aquatic invertebrates and salamander larvae.

Reproduction

Oviparous, reproducing in the spring and fall. Eggs of this species have never been spotted in the wild, but it is believed that females leave them under rocks, to prevent them being dragged by currents. In captivity, they lay up to forty eggs per year, with an incubation period between one month and one month and a half. They are born as a whitish minuscule larva and they slowly acquire their adult shape. Young newts’ appearance is the same as in adults, albeit smaller, with completely smooth skin and with gills.

Conduct

Mountain brook has developed some very particular adaptations to live in cold streams with strong currents. The main ones are: its flattened body that enables it to easily enter crevices; the lack of dorsal crest; its granular skin and its chitinous parts on the tip of its fingers, which lets it have a strong grip on crevices and on the bottom of the streams. Its small lungs help him remain underwater.

Unlike its Pyrenean counterpart, the young newts do not seem to leave the water and adopt ground-dwelling habits. It shares its habitat with two other amphibians: the fire salamander and the common midwife toad.

Status and conservation programs

Although the existence of a newt population in Montseny has been known since the 80s, at the times this was initially identified as Pyrenean newts, a common species in many parts of our country, and it was not until 2005 when it was proved that, due to their isolation, both species evolved independently.

It is estimated that during the last ten years its population has decreased 15%, which has led the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to list it as Critically Endangered (CR) on this organization’s red list. It has also been protected by Spanish and Catalan laws, where it is also considered to be a critically endangered species. It is, without a doubt, one of the most endangered amphibians in Europe.

The survival of this species is closely linked to the preservation of aquatic environments, but also to the vast forests surrounding them. Natural disasters, such as fires caused by lightening or floods caused by torrential rainfall, may lead to local extinctions of newt populations, but it is human intervention which is endangering the survival of the species.

Since 2006, Barcelona Provincial Council and the Catalan Government have co-funded the Montseny brook newt conservation project, in the scope of the Montseny Natural Park, which is aimed at ensuring the survival of this threatened vertebrate.

On 2007, twenty adult specimens were taken to the Torreferrussa Wild Fauna Recovery Centre to start a pilot programme and evaluate the feasibility of their reproduction in captivity. It should be noted that this is a species that had never been bred before, so the centre had make a great effort, in terms of both research and investment, to push the project forward. The specimens adapted very well, as reported a year later when the reproductive cycle ended with a high number of eggs. The growth of the larvae during the first two years was very encouraging, once the critical initial period had been overcome, which enabled us to have a reserve of over 400 juveniles and to start releasing them into the wild on 2010.

However, a single population is not enough to ensure the future of the species, should a critical situation arise. Along these lines, the Zoo of Barcelona started collaborating in the recovery plan of the Montseny brook newt, by breeding the species at its facilities.

On 2016, a LIFE project for the conservation of the Montseny brook newt has been started and the Zoo of Barcelona takes part in it, with the construction of a second facility for the reproduction of this endangered species.

Reating

Amphibian

Ferreret

atenea — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 19:34:57 +0000

Mallorca midwife toad

The Majorcan midwife toad was discovered in fossil state on 1977, and three years later living specimens were found in the island of Majorca. This small toad only lives in the mountain rivers of the Tramuntana mountain range, in the northern part of the island.

atenea Sun, 12/11/2016 - 20:34

Alytes muletensis

This small toad only lives in the karst mountain rivers of the Tramuntana mountain range, in the northern part of the island.

Degree of risk

Vulnerable

Class

Amphibia

Order

Anura

Family

Discoglossidae

5 - 10 g

3 - 4 cm

More than 10 years

Habitat

Fresh water

Social life

Solitary

Feeding

Insectivorous

Oviparous

Days

5 - 15

Baby

7 - 12 ous

Description

It is one of the world’s smallest toads, as its maximum size is 4 cm.

Its skin has a great variety of colours, from brownish to yellowish and greenish, with several irregular dark spots distributed along its body. It can be distinguished by its big dark eyes that show its nocturnal habits, and by its long limbs that help it climb to rocks.

Habitat

This small toad only lives in the karst mountain rivers of the Tramuntana mountain range, in the northern part of the island.

Feeding

Insectivore.

Reproduction

Belonging to the Alytes genus (midwife toads), they have their own reproductive peculiarities, among which, the fact that males carry the females’ eggs on their backs for all the maturation period, while keeping them wet. Once the eggs are about to hatch, the male submerges into water, so tadpoles can be set free. However, even in this aspect, the Majorcan midwife toad shows its peculiarities, as the number of laid eggs, from seven to twelve, is much smaller than in other midwife toads, and their size is almost as twice as much.

The mountain streams of Majorca, although seasonal in flow and tending to remain dry in the summer, do leave small ponds and puddles in gorges that never dry up. And this is where the tadpoles of the Majorcan midwife toad, one of the largest tadpoles in Europe, grow and undergo metamorphosis.

Conduct

The Majorcan midwife toads have long rear legs that enables them to climb, which has let them survive in such a harsh environment. This ability is very rare among similar continental amphibians, who are eminently burrowers. This is interpreted as an adaptation to the rough, limestone environment of the island.

Status and conservation programs

The Majorcan midwife toad was discovered in fossil state on 1977, and three years later living specimens were found in the island of Majorca. These cliffs between steep walls are its last refuge, as the inaccessibility of this desolate mountain has been a shelter for this species against predators. Its main predator is the viperine snake (Natrix Maura) and is also the main factor limiting these toads’ populations, as this water snake occupies the lower parts of the same streams where these toads live, which prevents its occurrence in these areas.

The Romans are believed to have introduced a wide range of continental species on Majorca, including the genet (Genetta genetta), the European pine marten (Martes martes), the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), the false smooth snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus), the aforementioned viperine snake and the common frog (Rana perezi). The presence of all these species has contributed to an almost complete extinction of the animals endemic to the Balearic Islands, among which there is the Majorcan midwife toad. Majorcan midwife toads used to live in the whole island, as proved by the large number of fossils found. However, nowadays they only survive in areas where these new predators cannot access, such as the steepest mountain stream areas of the Tramuntana’s mountain range.

Nowadays, the main threats to these toads are, besides the aforementioned introduction of predators in their habitat, the growing pressure on island water resources to meet human consumption needs, the increased human presence as a result of the increase of rural tourism, the presence of avid collectors attempting to catch them (an illegal activity) and the worrisome and recently-discovered existence of pollution, coming from bottling plants.

Years ago, the Balearic government signed an agreement with the Zoo of Barcelona to breed these toads in captivity, in order to reintroduce them later to Majorca, which has proved to be quite successful. In recent years, more than a thousand toads born at the Zoo's facilities have been released into their natural habitat on the Serra of Tramuntana.

Reating

Amphibian