Tyrrhenian Painted Frog
Discoglossus sardus
- Class
- Amphibian
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 287
- Most observed in
- 🇫🇷 France
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The Tyrrhenian painted frog (Discoglossus sardus) is a species of frog in the family Alytidae (formerly Discoglossidae). Endemic to the Tyrrhenian Sea basin, it is found in a handful of Western Mediterranean islands, namely Sardinia, Corsica, and the Tuscan Archipelago. A species with high stakes in terms of conservation, it is very similar to the related Corsican painted frog, Discoglossus montalentii, with whom it shares part of its habitat in Corsica. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. It can be found from sea level up to more than 1 700 meters of altitude. Able to endure slight water pollution, it is nevertheless threatened by habitat loss. The species isn't immediately threatened and is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. It still fragile and subject to several threats justifying strong conservation efforts in both France and Italy, where it is fully protected and part of Annex 2 of the Habitats Directive. On top of habitat loss caused by urbanization, the species is sensible to chytridiomycosis, a skin disease threatening amphibian species across the globe. Not well known from the wider public, the Tyrrhenian painted frog figures among the emblematic species of several protected area, including the Port-Cros National Park in France.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Tyrrhenian painted frog”.