Pelobates fuscus

Pelobates fuscus (Source)

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Amphibia
Subclassis: Lissamphibia
Ordo: Anura
Subordo: Mesobatrachia
Familia: Pelobatidae
Genus: Pelobates
Species: Pelobates fuscus

Name

Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768)

Type locality: "Wien", Austria.

Holotype: Illustrated by Roesel von Rosenhof, 1758, Hist. Nat. Ran. Nost.: pl. 17, 18.

Synonyms

* Bufo fuscus Laurenti, 1768
* Rana vespertina Pallas, 1771
* Rana fusca — Meyer, 1795
* Bufo vespertinus — Schneider, 1799
* Rana alliacea Shaw, 1802
* Bombinator fuscus — Fitzinger, 1826
* Bombina fusca — Sturm, 1828
* Bombina marmorata Sturm, 1828
* Pelobates fuscus — Wagler, 1830
* Cultripes minor Müller, 1832
* Rana cultripes cultripes — Schinz, 1833
* Rana cultripes minor — Schinz, 1833
* Pelobates fuscus var. lividus Koch, 1872
* Pelobates insubricus Cornalia, 1873
* Pelobates latifrons Herón-Royer, 1888
* Pelobates fusca var. marmorata Prazák, 1898
* Pelobates fuscus var. orientalis Severtsov, 1913
* Pelobates campestris Severtsov, 1913
* Pelobates fuscus insubricus — Mertens, 1923
* Pelobates fuscus fuscus — Mertens, 1923
* Pelobates praefuscus Khosatzky, 1985

References

* Laurenti, 1768, Spec. Med. Exhib. Synops. Rept.: 28, 122.
* Mertens, 1923, Senckenb. Biol., 5: 123.
* Frost, Darrel R. 2007. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.1 (10 October, 2007). Electronic Database accessible at [1] American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Pelobates fuscus . Accessed on 23 June 2008.
* 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN link: Pelobates fuscus (Least Concern) Downloaded on 23 June 2008.

Vernacular names
Internationalization
English: Common Eurasian Spadefoot Toad

--------

Pelobates fuscus is a species of toad in the family Pelobatidae, native to an area extending from Central Europe to Western Asia. It is commonly known as the Common Spadefoot, Garlic Toad, the Common Spadefoot Toad and the European Common Spadefoot.

The common spadefoot grows to a length of approximately 6.5 centimetres (2.6 in) for males and 8 centimetres (3.1 in) for females. The skin colouration varies depending upon habitat, gender and region, but is usually light-grey to beige-brown on the dorsal surface. The skin is mottled by darker marks that differ between individuals. The belly is white, sometimes with grey mottling. Albino specimens have been observed.

Two subspecies are traditionally recognised: Pelobates fuscus fuscus (from central Europe) and Pelobates fuscus insubricus (from N. Italy). In reality there is no physical or behavioural character allowing to distinguish these supposed subspecies. A recent study showed that there is no haplotype segregation for the populations of N. Italy, that, therefore, are not to be ascribed to a different subspecies [3]. Haplotypes from some N. Italian valleys are very characteristic and support a different conception in terms of conservation: not for a different taxonomic position but, instead, for a peculiar differentiation. Populations from eastern Europe appear sufficiently different to warrant a possible species status (Pelobates vespertinus).

When alarmed, it emits a very loud call (alarm call) and it can exude a noxious secretion which bears a garlic odour, hence the common name "garlic toad".

References

1. ^ Aram Agasyan, Aziz Avisi, Boris Tuniyev, Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic, Petros Lymberakis, Claes Andrén, Dan Cogalniceanu, John Wilkinson, Natalia Ananjeva, Nazan Üzüm, Nikolai Orlov, Richard Podloucky, Sako Tuniyev, Uğur Kaya (2008). Pelobates fuscus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on January 31, 2010.
2. ^ Darrel Frost. "Pelobates fuscus". Amphibian Species of the World 5.3, an Online Reference. The American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
3. ^ Angelica Crottini & Franco Andreone (2007). "Conservazione di un anfibio iconico: lo status di Pelobates fuscus in Italia e linee guida d’azione". Quad. Staz. Ecol. civ. Mus. St. nat. Ferrara 17: 67–76. http://www.francoandreone.it/docs/Crottini_Andreone_Pelobates_iconico.pdf.