{"id":4905,"date":"2020-03-23T12:33:40","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T12:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/?page_id=4905"},"modified":"2023-02-07T21:02:27","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T21:02:27","slug":"discoglossus_scovazzi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/en\/ficha\/discoglossus_scovazzi\/","title":{"rendered":"Species page Discoglossus scovazzi"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Moroccan Painted Frog
\n<\/span>Discoglossus scovazzi<\/strong><\/em> Camerano, 1878
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By Gabriel Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol & David Donaire-Barroso
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Updated: 1\/11\/2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Taxonomy: Anura | Alytidae | Discoglossus | Discoglossus scovazzi<\/p>\n

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Adult from Bab Taza. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"\"\u00a0 Discoglossus scovazzi<\/em>
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Distribution map of Discoglossus scovazzi<\/em> in Morocco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1) Phylogenetic frame<\/h2>\n
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This Moroccan endemic species was considered a synonymy or subspecies of D. pictus<\/em> (Boulenger, 1891; Lanza et al., 1986). However phylogenetic analysis showed that Discoglossus scovazzi<\/em> must be considered a full species that is more related to Discoglossus galganoi\/jeanneae<\/em> (Iberian species) than to D. pictus<\/em> (Mart\u00ednez-Solano 2004; Biton et al.,<\/em> 2013).<\/p>\n

2) Description<\/h2>\n

The Moroccan painted frog is a medium sized amphibian with usually a snout-vent-length less than six cm, characterized by a smooth skin, small elongate warts, pointed snout and a characteristic pupil with an inverse drop shape.<\/p>\n

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The pupil of Discoglossus is completely different to the rest of the genus in Morocco. Bab Taza. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These frogs have a high variability of colour patterns within the same population with\u00a0 uniform, striped or spotted designs (Beukema et al.,<\/em> 2013). Basic coloration is cream and the striped or spotted phenotypes are characterized by darker stripes or rounded marks.<\/p>\n

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Adult with most typical coloration in its distribution. Ben Slimane. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Adult with dark color from Ketama. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Adult with orange coloration and striped pattern. Tagramt. DD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Adult with very contrasting striped pattern from Jbel Kebir. DD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Adult with yellowish coloration. Fes. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Variability of pattern in a single population. Oued Laou. DD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Subadult. Taza. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Juvenile. Asilah. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are no morphological features to distinguish it from D. pictus<\/em> (Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol et al<\/em>., 2019) although in large specimens the head shape seems broader in D. pictus <\/em>(personal subjective observation, D. Donaire). Apart from D. pictus <\/em>it could be confused with Pelophylax saharicus <\/em>for the inexpert eye, <\/em>but one of the main ways to differentiate them is the tympanum, which is noticeable in P. saharicus<\/em> and indistinc in D. scovazzi<\/em>. \u00a0Also, very evident, are the two glandular folds along the dorsal sides of P. saharicus<\/em>, while this fold is only present on the head and sides of the neck in D. scovazzi<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Left: D. scovazzi (Moulay Abdeslam). GM; Right: Pelophylax saharicus (Assa). GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3) Ecology and habits<\/h2>\n

This is mainly a nocturnal species that can be sometimes found during daytime, usually around wetlands. Adults can be found active on the surface mostly during rainy periods between September and May, and probably aestivate in the driest and hottest months of the year.<\/p>\n

According to Beukema and collaborators (2013) it is one of the first amphibians to reproduce in Morocco. The mating season begins with the winter rains, resulting in tadpoles in October-February and juveniles seen in June. We have\u00a0 also seen juveniles in Kenitra at the end of August (pers. obs<\/em>.). All the observations suggest that\u00a0 this species can breed during almost the whole year as has been described\u00a0 by Schleich and collaborators (1996) similar to D. pictus<\/em> (Escoriza, 2015). The amplexus is inguinal and the males develop nuptial callosities during the mating season. Females lay a maximum of 1.000 eggs (Salvador et al.,<\/em> 2008).<\/p>\n

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Detail of the callosities of a male during the mating season. Photo: Alberto S\u00e1nchez-Vialas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Detail of the hand of a male during mating season. Tetouan. Photo: DD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Two juvenile D. scovazzi with a juvenile Pleurodeles waltl under a tyre on the shore of a temporary lagoon. August 22nd 2010. Kenitra. Photo: GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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High density of tadpoles in a small water pond around Tetouan. DD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Tadpole. Moulay Abdeslam. Photo GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They feed mostly on invertebrates and are preyed by Natrix maura<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In Kenitra we have observed many individuals of the bird Bubulcus ibis<\/em> hunting in the shore of temporal lagoon where several juvenile of Discoglossus scovazzi<\/em> were found. Tadpoles are preyed upon by Pleurodeles waltl<\/em> (Escoriza & Ben Hassine, 2019) and likely by Salamandra algira <\/em>larvae.<\/p>\n

4) Distribution, habitat and abundance<\/h2>\n

This species is considered an endemic of Morocco and the Spanish territory of Ceuta (Vences et al<\/em>., 2014). The encroachment to the west of the Moulouya River by D. pictus<\/em> indicates that D. scovazzi<\/em> does not exist in Algeria. Any Algerian record of Discoglossus<\/em> should be classified as D. pictus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

It has a wide distribution in Morocco with the following boundaries: in the east, the Moulouya Basin is the limit between this species and D. pictus<\/em>. However, the latter enters west of the Moulouya River along the Mediterranean Coast at least until Melilla and Nador, although the two species might occur sympatrically at some sites within this region. A more detailed sampling\u00a0 should be made in that area according to Vences and collaborators (2014). In the South, the High Atlas is the limit of their range except where it meets the Atlantic Coast. The species has been recorded several times in the Souss Valley and once in the Oued Draa (F. Cuzin in Bons & Geniez 1996). The latter was considered doubtful by Bons & Geniez (1996) possibly due to the great distance to the rest of populations. The recent finding of Discoglossus<\/em> at Oued Noun, several kilometers north of Oued Draa\u00a0 (Garc\u00eda-Cardenete et al<\/em>., 2019), revalidates that record, showing that the possible southwest limit for the genus Discoglossus<\/em> could be the Oued Draa at least until 1992.<\/p>\n

This species is adapted to almost all the aquatic habitats of Morocco up to\u00a0 2.724 m in the high Atlas: From temporary ponds in the coastal dunes and forest, rivers, small mountain streams (Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol et al<\/em>., 2019). It is one of the most common amphibians in\u00a0 water sources around human areas and is present in flooded road ditches\u00a0 and cattle tracks filled with water\u2026<\/p>\n

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Example of habitats where this species occurs: top left: Rocky wall close to a steppe (Taza). GM; top right: mountain stream (Ifrane) GM; centre left: forest with sandy substrate with temporary lagoons (Kenitra) GM; centre right: rocky slope close to a river (Ben Slimane)GM; bottom left: flooded grassy area (Kenitra) DD; bottom right: small water pond (Tetouan) DD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Moroccan Painted Frog is one of the most common amphibians of North Morocco. Despite being affected by habitat destruction, it is one of the few species of Moroccan amphibians that can adapt quickly to\u00a0 habitat changes. For example, we have found it several times in intensive agriculture fields between Fes and Karia Ba Mohamed (Le\u00f3n Vigara R, Izagirre A, V\u00e1zquez Gra\u00f1a R, Mart\u00ednez del M\u00e1rmol G, unp. data<\/em>). Mateo and collaborators (2003) cited the salinization of lagoons as one of the main threats. It is frequently killed by traffic on roads on rainy nights\u00a0 and it has been found trapped several times in human structures such as pits, storm drains, wells, water channels and cisterns (Bab Taza, Kenitra, Ben Slimane, Fes, Taroudant; unp. data<\/em>). It can carry the Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis<\/em> (El Mouden et al.<\/em>, 2011). Apart from these threats, it continues to be very abundant so is considered by the IUCN as Least Concern (Salvador et al<\/em>., 2008).<\/p>\n

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Example of a structure where this species is often found trapped. Fes. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Adult trapped in a water channel in Taroudant. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Specimen found dead in strange circumstances on the flooded side of a road. Moulay Abdeslam. GM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ackowledgements<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Thanks to Alberto S\u00e1nchez-Vialas for the permission to use his photos and information.<\/p>\n

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Bibliography<\/h2>\n