Hula painted frog

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Hula painted frog
PikiWiki Israel 79040 latonia nigriventer.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Alytidae
Genus: Latonia
Species:
L. nigriventer
Binomial name
Latonia nigriventer
Discoglossus nigriventer distribution.png
Synonyms

Discoglossus nigriventerMendelssohn and Steinitz, 1943

Contents

The Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer) is a species of frog endemic to the Lake Hula marshes in northern Israel. It is the only living member of the genus Latonia, which is otherwise known from fossils from Europe spanning from the Oligocene through Pleistocene. [3] The Hula painted frog was thought to be extinct as a result of habitat destruction during the 1950s until the species was rediscovered in 2011.

The draining of Lake Hula and its marshes in the 1950s was thought to have caused the extinction of this frog, along with the cyprinid fish Mirogrex hulensis and cichlid fish Tristramella intermedia . [4] Only five individuals had been found prior to the draining of the lake. Environmental improvements in the Hula reserve have been cited as a possible reason for the frog's reemergence. [5]

Description

The Hula painted frog has a dark belly with small white spots. It is colored ochre above with a rusty colour grading into dark olive-grey to greyish-black on the sides. Differences from the common painted frog ( Discoglossus pictus ) include its greater interocular distance, longer forelimbs, and a less projecting snout. The type specimen was an adult female with a body length of 40 millimetres (1.6 in)

Little is known about its history, because few specimens have been found by scientists. Two adults and two tadpoles were collected in 1940 and a single specimen was found in 1955. This would prove to be the last record of this species until 2011. [6]

The four 1940 specimens were to be used as types, but the smaller, half-grown frog was eaten by the larger one in captivity. [2]

According to an ecologist of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the frog's Hebrew name, agulashon shehor-gahon (Black-bellied round-tongued), derives from its black belly and round tongue. The scientific name of the species reflects these details as well. Unlike the tongues of other frogs, it is not used to catch prey. [7]

This frog was originally proposed to be a member of the genus Discoglossus , but further genetic and morphological assessment after the rediscovery of the species led a reassignment to genus Latonia , for which no other living examples are known. Fossils of Latonia are known in Europe spanning from the Upper Oligocene until the Early Pleistocene. [8] The closest relative of Latonia is considered to be Discoglossus. On this basis, the Hula painted frog has been labeled a living fossil, the only extant representative of an ancient genetic split. [9] [10] [11]

Conservation status

In 1996, the IUCN classified this species as "extinct in the wild", the very first amphibian to be given that designation by the IUCN. [1] [11] Israel continued to list it as an endangered species in the slim hope that a relict population may be found in the Golan Heights or in southern Lebanon. Following the rediscovery of the species in 2011, the IUCN now considers the frog to be critically endangered as its known habitat occupies less than 2 km2. [1]

The female specimen found in the 2011 rediscovery Israel painted frog.JPG
The female specimen found in the 2011 rediscovery

In 2000, a scientist from the Lebanese nature protection organisation A Rocha claimed he had seen a frog species which could be Latonia nigriventer in the Aammiq Wetland south of the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. Two French-Lebanese-British expeditions in the years 2004 and 2005 yielded no confirmation as to the further existence of this species. [12] In August 2010, a search organised by the Amphibian Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature set out to look for various species of frogs thought to be extinct in the wild, including the Hula painted frog. [13]

Current Research

In 2013, a study published in Nature Communications revealed that in 2011 during a routine patrol at the Hula Nature Reserve, ranger Yoram Malka found the frog, which he immediately suspected as being the Hula painted frog, as he claimed he has been on the lookout for it for many years. Scientists confirmed that it was one of this rare species. [5] [9] [10] An ecologist with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority credited the rehydration of the area for the frog sighting. [14] On November 29, a second specimen was located in the same area. [5] The second Hula painted frog, a female, was found in swampy weeds twenty centimeters deep. It weighed 13 grams, half the weight of its male counterpart. [7] Since the discovery of the first specimen, at least ten more individuals have been found, all in the same area. [15]

In 2016, a team led by Professor Sarig Gafni of the Ruppin Academic Center's School of Marine Sciences discovered populations totaling several hundred individuals by searching in water at night, instead of in marsh mud, finding populations in 17 of the 52 Hula Valley water holes they surveyed. [16]

In 2017, an article published in the Molecular Ecology Journal, mentions of a group of scientists who investigated the suitable aquatic habitats for Hula painted frogs using the environmental DNA (eDNA) approach. [17] The Hula Lake once provided a habitat for many rare species including this frog. Since, the 2011 rediscovery of this species in this region (in the Hula nature reserve), consequent efforts to study and protect it started. However, these efforts have been hampered by the elusive nature of this species (that also prevented it being found from the 1950s-2010s). Since, there is a lack of systematic and efficient methodology to detect a rare amphibian or aquatic species, including this Hula painted frogs, they were designated “extinct”; until their rediscovery at a later stage.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming a ‘go-to’ tool for detecting species presence in aquatic environments. eDNA extraction (genetic material extracted through water filtrate) followed by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR is a technique to amplify genetic material in real time) are highly sensitive methods which can increase the detection probability of rare organisms. To be more reliable the researchers concluded a site to be positive for the presence of Hula painted frogs if the water contains eDNA and if the physical presence of frog is detected as well. Thus, these researchers sampled 52 sites and found that 22 sites were positive for the presence of Hula painted frogs. Most of the positive sites were located in the regions around Hula Nature Reserve, Agamon ha-Hula, and Ein Te’o Nature Reserve. These regions overlap with the former Hula Lake region, and also contain organic, and colluvial-alluvial soils.

Such findings in the regions around reserved parks indicate the importance of nature parks in conservation of wild-life. The suitable habitats predicted by employing the eDNA are of great importance for identifying potential sites for future translocation to save this rare frog.

In 2018, another article published in Nature Scientific Reports, mentioned that this species has low abundance and dispersal capability, calling for urgent conservation measures. [18] The total estimate of potentially reproducing adults in this population (Nad) is found to be 234-235 individuals. They determined the population genetics of this species through a capture-recapture study on 118 adult frogs, and through micro-satellite analysis. Surprisingly, this frog has high genetic diversity (HO = 0.771) and low inbreeding coefficient (FIS = −0.018) with an effective population size estimate (Ne) of ~16–35. It could be due to the presence of one more unknown population or genetic admixture leading to a high genetic diversity and low inbreeding in spite of a less population.

Future research calls for understanding the habitat locations of another population which is not well studied, or different spots within the Hula valley location in which the frog species can be present. The aquatic habitats of this species are prone to disturbance and anthropogenic hazards which could imperil the survival of endangered Hula frogs. Thus outcomes of any future research dealing with prediction of the favorable dwelling habitats of this rare species, and their habitat characterization will be vital to protect the only living member of genus Latonia, by recommending characteristics of safer spots.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living fossil</span> Organism resembling a form long shown in the fossil record

A living fossil is an extant taxon that phenotypically resembles related species known only from the fossil record. To be considered a living fossil, the fossil species must be old relative to the time of origin of the extant clade. Living fossils commonly are of species-poor lineages, but they need not be. While the body plan of a living fossil remains superficially similar, it is never the same species as the remote relatives it resembles, because genetic drift would inevitably change its chromosomal structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombinatoridae</span> Family of amphibians

Bombinatoridae is a family of toads found in Eurasia. Species of the family have flattened bodies and some are highly toxic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alytidae</span> Family of amphibians

The Alytidae are a family of primitive frogs. Their common name is painted frogs or midwife toads. Most are endemic to Europe, but three species occur in northwest Africa, and a species formerly thought to be extinct is found in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lazarus taxon</span> Taxon that disappears from the fossil record, only to reappear later

In paleontology, a Lazarus taxon is a taxon that disappears for one or more periods from the fossil record, only to appear again later. Likewise in conservation biology and ecology, it can refer to species or populations that were thought to be extinct, and are rediscovered. The term Lazarus taxon was coined by Karl W. Flessa and David Jablonski in 1983 and was then expanded by Jablonski in 1986. Paul Wignall and Michael Benton defined Lazarus taxa as, "At times of biotic crisis many taxa go extinct, but others only temporarily disappeared from the fossil record, often for intervals measured in millions of years, before reappearing unchanged". Earlier work also supports the concept though without using the name Lazarus taxon, like work by Christopher R. C. Paul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hula Valley</span> Agricultural wetland region in northern Israel

The Hula Valley is an agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water, which used to be Lake Hula, prior to its draining. It is a major stopover for birds migrating along the Syrian-African Rift Valley between Africa, Europe, and Asia.

<i>Discoglossus</i> Genus of amphibians

Discoglossus is a genus of frogs in the family Alytidae found in southern Europe and northwestern Africa.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Israel</span> Flora and fauna of Israel

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Mirogrex hulensis, sometimes known as the Hula bream, was a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. Its natural habitats were swamps and freshwater lakes in Lake Hula in northern Israel. Mirogrex hulensis looked much like a sardine. In Israel other members of the genus often are called "sardin" in culinary terms.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinz Steinitz</span> Israeli marine biologist and herpetologist

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References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2021). "Latonia nigriventer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T6715A177694004. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T6715A177694004.en . Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 Mendelssohn, Heinrich; Steinitz, Heinz (1943). "A New Frog from Palestine". Copeia. 1943 (4): 231–233. doi:10.2307/1438135. JSTOR   1438135.
  3. ↑ "Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference (Version 6)". Reference Reviews. 28 (6): 32. 2014-08-12. doi:10.1108/rr-05-2014-0125. ISSN   0950-4125.
  4. ↑ "Hula Painted Frog Bounces Back From Extinction". Wired UK. 2011-11-21. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  5. 1 2 3 Zafrir, Rinat (November 17, 2011). "Long thought extinct, Hula painted frog found once again in Israeli nature reserve". Haaretz.
  6. ↑ "Frog jumps back from extinction". News24. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  7. 1 2 Rinat, Zafrir (2011-11-29). "Second of frog species long thought extinct found in Israel nature reserve Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  8. ↑ Rocek, Z. (1994). "Taxonomy and distribution of Tertiary discoglossids (Anura) of the genus Latonia v. Meyer, 1843" (PDF). Geobios. 27 (6): 717–751. Bibcode:1994Geobi..27..717R. doi:10.1016/s0016-6995(94)80058-8.
  9. 1 2 Biton, Rebecca; Geffen, Eli; Vences, Miguel; Cohen, Orly; Bailon, Salvador; Rabinovich, Rivka; Malka, Yoram; Oron, Talya; Boistel, Renaud; Brumfeld, Vlad; Gafny, Sarig (4 June 2013). "The rediscovered Hula painted frog is a living fossil". Nature Communications. 4. Article 1959. Bibcode:2013NatCo...4.1959B. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2959 . PMID   23736869.
  10. 1 2 Morelle, Rebecca (2013-06-04). "Rediscovered Hula painted frog 'is a living fossil'". BBC . Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  11. 1 2 Than, Ker (4 June 2013). "Frog Long Thought Extinct Is Rediscovered in Israel". National Geographic. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013.
  12. ↑ Tron, François (April 2005) Second Discoglossus nigriventer rediscovery expedition in the Central Bekaa valley, Lebanon, A Rocha Lebanon.
  13. ↑ Black, Richard (2010-08-09). "Global hunt begins for 'extinct' species of frogs". BBC . Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  14. ↑ Fleischman, Danielle (2011-11-17). "'Extinct' frog rediscovered in Israel | Jewish Telegraphic Agency". Jta.org. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  15. ↑ Ed Yong (2013-06-04). "'Extinct' frog is last survivor of its lineage". Nature. doi:10.1038/nature.2013.13135. S2CID   88427695 . Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  16. ↑ Shpigel, Noah (30 April 2016). "Scientists Discover Hula Painted Frog Hasn't Croaked After". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  17. ↑ Renan, Sharon; Gafny, Sarig; Perl, R. G. Bina; Roll, Uri; Malka, Yoram; Vences, Miguel; Geffen, Eli (December 2017). "Living quarters of a living fossil-Uncovering the current distribution pattern of the rediscovered Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer) using environmental DNA". Molecular Ecology. 26 (24): 6801–6812. doi:10.1111/mec.14420. ISSN   0962-1083. PMID   29117632. S2CID   20984317.
  18. ↑ Perl, R. G. Bina; Geffen, Eli; Malka, Yoram; Barocas, Adi; Renan, Sharon; Vences, Miguel; Gafny, Sarig (2018-04-03). "Population genetic analysis of the recently rediscovered Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer) reveals high genetic diversity and low inbreeding". Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 5588. Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.5588P. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-23587-w. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   5882862 . PMID   29615810.

Additional data and discoveries were published in Haaretz newspaper on 15/04/2016

Among the discoveries are Tadpole data, which is very small, up to 2.5 cm, and becomes even smaller as adult, the largest adult caught was 13 cm long which suggest it was several decades old. Also sound was first noticed and it is a very weak one.

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