Herpetozoa 32: 255–258 (2019) DOI 10.3897/herpetozoa.32.e37560 The Caucasian Toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) in the Levant: evidence from mitochondrial DNA Daniel Jablonski1, Riyad A. Sadek2 1 Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia 2 Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Bliss Street, 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon http://zoobank.org/017F0D1F-7467-43A9-9D7C-46335D293038 Corresponding author: Daniel Jablonski (
[email protected]) Academic editor: Günter Gollmann ♦ Received 20 June 2019 ♦ Accepted 5 October 2019 ♦ Published 29 October 2019 Abstract We present the first molecular analysis of the Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) complex population in the Levant. This complex contains four species distributed through the Western Palearctic. Based on the analysis of the widely used mitochondrial marker 16S rRNA, populations from the Levant belong to B. verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) and have a close affiliation to populations from the Trans- caucasian region rather than southern Turkey. Such identified relationships may imply past rapid colonisation from north to south and support the need for further research. Key Words common toad, Bufonidae, mtDNA, biogeography, taxonomy, Middle East The Caucasian Toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, western and southern Turkey (García-Porta et al. 2012; 1814), is a member of the Western Palearctic B. bufo (Lin- Arntzen et al. 2013). naeus, 1758) complex along with three other species: B. Although information about B. bufo complex in the bufo, B. eichwaldi and B. spinosus (García-Porta et al. Levant region (Syria, Lebanon) is absent in recent phylo- 2012; Recuero et al. 2012; Arntzen et al.