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Morphometrics, Distribution and Ecology of the Amphibians in Jordan

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Vertebrate Zoology 60 (2) 2010 147 147 – 162 © Museum für Tierkunde Dresden, ISSN 1864-5755, 15.09.2010 Morphometrics, distribution and ecology of the amphibians in Jordan AHMAD M. DISI 1 & ZUHAIR S. AMR 2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Jordan. Amman, 11942, Jordan ahmadmdisi(at)yahoo.com 2 Department of Biology, Jordan University of Science & Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid, 11112, Jordan amrz(at)just.edu.jo Received on July 13, 2010, accepted on July 30, 2010. Published online at www.vertebrate-zoology.de on September 02, 2010. > Abstract One urodele amphibian species (Ommatotriton vittatus) and four anuran species (Pseudepidalea viridis, Pelophylax bedriagae, Hyla savignyi and Pelobates syriacus) were recorded from Jordan. Alcohol-preserved specimens (n = 340) were examined. Seventeen measurements were taken and are compared between the sexes. The distribution and habitat for each species are discussed. The current status of the amphibians of Jordan is discussed. > Kurzfassung Eine Schwanzlurch-Art (Ommatotriton vittatus) und vier Froschlurch-Arten (Pseudepidalea viridis, Pelophylax bedriagae, Hyla savignyi und Pelobates syriacus) wurden nachgewiesen für Jordanien. Alkoholfi xierte Exemplare (n = 340) wurden untersucht. Siebzehn morphometrische Maße wurden erhoben und geschlechtsabhängig verglichen. Die Verbreitung und das Habitat für jede Art werden diskutiert. Der gegenwärtige Status der Amphibien in Jordanien wird diskutiert. > Key words Amphibians, Jordan, ecology, morphometrics. Introduction The earliest reports on the amphibians of Jordan were are limited and mainly found along the Jordan Valley, made by Tristram (1884) and Hart (1891). Other re- Wadi Araba, Amman-Zarqa Basin, the Mediterranean ports were made by Barbour (1914) and Balletto et biotope and the Azraq Desert Oasis. Jordan remains al. (1985). Barbour (1914) erroneously reported the with the lowest number of amphibians in the region presence of Bufo regularis from Petra, but Werner with only fi ve confi rmed species. (1987) re-examined the material originally collected Schneider & Sinsch (1999) compared calls of by J. C. Phillips and W. Mann expedition, and found Middle Eastern water frogs with those of Rana rid- that all specimens are in fact Bufo viridis. ibunda in Kazakhstan, Armenia and Greece. They con- Within the Middle East, Turkey harbors the highest cluded that the Middle Eastern populations are in fact number of amphibians reaching about 22 species in the R. bedriagae. This taxon is the oldest available name Asiatic part (Cox et al., 2006). Balletto et al. (1985) for water frogs of our regions and was given priority gave the fi rst comprehensive study on the amphibians over R. r. caralitana and R. levantina. of Arabia. They listed nine species, six of which are Recent molecular investigations on the amphib- endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. In Syria, “Israel/ ians of the Palaearctic region yielded new insights into Palestine” and Lebanon, 7 species of amphibians have the taxonomic status of the amphibians of the Middle been recorded (Cox et al., 2006). East and Jordan in particular. For example, Plötner Jordan is considered to be a semi-arid area where et al. (2001) showed that the water frog, R. bedria- as much as 87 % of its total area is dry. Water bodies gae, in Jordan and Syria is distinct from the European 148 DISI & AMR: Morphometrics, distribution and ecology of the amphibians in Jordan Water Frog, Rana ridibunda, and that the Anatolian 8. Interorbital distance (IO): the distance between R. bedriagae differs from the Southern populations by the outer margins of the two eyelids at the middle 2.2 – 3.4 % of the analysed sites. points. Recent molecular studied revealed the taxonomic 9. Hand length (HDL): the distance between the in- status of the amphibians worldwide, and resulted in the ner margin of the palmar metacarpal ? tubercle to replacement of new generic names (Frost et al., 2006). the tip of the longest fi nger (third fi nger). Che et al. (2007) reconstructed phylogenetic trees for 10. First fi nger length (FIL): the distance between the representative species of the subfamily Raninae using inner corner of the fi nger and the tip of the fi nger. approximately 2000 base pairs of DNA sequences from 11. Fist fi nger width (FlW): the greatest width of the two mitochondrial (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) and two fi rst fi nger (between the inner and the outer cor- nuclear (tyrosinase, rhodopsin) genes. They elevated ners). Raninae to familial status and recognized at least 12. Thigh length (THL): length between the lateral twelve genera, among them Pelophylax. In this paper tip of the urostyle and the convex surface of the we adopted the new proposed generic names. condyle (the knee was held at the fl exed position). This study is an attempt to defi ne the taxonomy of 13. Tibial length (TL): the distance between the tibial the amphibian fauna of Jordan with emphasis on the head and the tibio-tarsal articulation. recent nomenclature changes, their zoogeography, eco- 14. Tarsal length (TSL): distance between the tibio- logical preference, association, morphometrics as well tarsal articulation and the joint between foot and as to defi ne threats to their populations. tarsus. 15. First toe length (TI): the length between the outer margin of the inner metatarsal tubercle and the tip of the 1st toe. Materials and Methods 16. Inner tubercle length (TBL): the longitudinal length of the inner metatarsal tubercle. 17. Foot length (FL): the distance between the poste- Three hundred and fourty two alcohol-preserved speci- rior margin of the outer metatarsal tubercle and the mens at the deposition of the Jordan University Mu- tip of the fourth toe (longest toe). seum, Amman and at the Jordan Natural History Mu- seum, Yarmouk University, Irbid, were examined. The Sex identifi cation. For Pseudepidalea viridis, males collections were made since 1977 till present time and are characterized by their extended single keratinisa- numerous observations were performed during many tion on the mesial side of the fi rst fi nger. This feature is fi eld excursions all over Jordan. Specimens were col- prominent during the fertilization season. Hyla savignyi lected using nets and by hand. Also, many specimens males have large obvious yellowish or brownish vocal were examined morphologically in the fi eld and then sacs beneath the chin. Pelophylax bedriagae males are released. distinguished morphologically by their two external Seventeen measurements were taken according to grey or black vocal sacs that opens externally through Balletto et al. (1985) using a caliper with an accu- irregular slits behind the mouth corners, also males racy of ±0.1 mm. All reported measurements are in cm. possess well developed callosity on the external and ventral parts of the fi rst fi nger. Specimens whom their 1. Snout urostyle length (SV): the distance between sex was not identifi ed were excluded from the statisti- the anterior tip of the snout and the posterior tip cal treatment. of the urostyle. 2. Eye-nasal distance (EN): the distance between the Field observations. Field trips were conducted rou- anterior margin of the eye and the posterior mar- tinely in many parts of the country by the authors. Field gin of the naris. observations were recorded describing breeding sea- 3. Head length (HL): the distance between the tip of sons, abundance etc. Also, large number of specimens the snout and the posterior margin of the tympa- were identifi ed in the fi eld and subsequently released. num including the tympanic annulus. Locality names spelling are according to the Gazetteer 4. Head width (HW): the greatest width of the head, of Jordan (Anon., 1990). at the level of the tympanum. 5. Internasal distance (IN): the minimum distance separating the nares. 6. Eye diameter (E): the greatest distance between the anterior and posterior margins of the eye. 7. Tympanic diameter (T): the longitudinal distance between the outer margins of the tympanic annulus. Vertebrate Zoology ■ 60 (2) 2010 149 Results able habitat for this species, however, no specimens were collected for the past 30 years. Salamandridae Family Bufonidae Ommatotriton vittatus (Gray in Jenyns, 1835) Pseudepidalea viridis (Laurenti, 1768) Material examined. (n = 137) Jordan University Museum: Filed observations. The presence of the Banded Newt JUMA 1 – 2, 2 PP, 13.10.1977, Wadi Beesan. JUMA 4, 3 OO, in Jordan is based on a fi eld observation made by Ah- 13.10.1977, Wadi Beesan. JUMA 28, 1 P, 26.10.1978, Amman mad Disi during a fi eld excursions accompanied by (Ras el-Ein). JUMA 43, 2 OO, 28.3.1978, Ghore As-Safi . JUMA Friedhelm Krupp and Wolfgang Schneider in 60, 19.3.1979, Azraq ash Shishsn. JUMA 64, 1 O, 19.4.1979, March 1981. The Banded Newt was spotted in a tem- Petra. JUMA 65 – 68, 2 OO, and 5 immature specimens, porary pond near Amman, Princess Hayah Farm. This 13.4.1978, Ma’an, A1-Ghadeer. JUMA 77, 1 O, April 1980, locality is within the Mediterranean biotope, character- Wadi Al-Arab. JUMA 79 and 81, 2 PP, 28.5.1980, Wadi Dahal. ized by high rainfall (400 – 500 ml annually) and Terra JUMA 80, 1 P, 28.5.1980, Dayr Alla. JUMA 90, 1 P, 23.8.1980, Rosa soil type, with ample temporary ponds. No other Dayr Alla. JUMA 101, Februray1980, Ziqlab Dam. JUMA 104, specimens were ever seen or collected from this site or 1 O, no date, Wadi Dahl. JUMA 105, 1 P, 23.8.1980, A1-Dhul- any other region in Jordan despite the continuous visits iel. JUMA 126, 1 O, 21.8.1980, Wadi Al Haydan. JUMA 142, to the same area and other sites during different seasons. 21.8.1980, Wadi Al-Haydan. JUMA 145, 1 P, 4.3.1981, Wadi Al-Khafi ah. JUMA 146, 24.4.1981, Wadi Amruk.
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  • Species Summary

    Species Summary

    Hyla savignyi Region: 10 Taxonomic Authority: (Audouin, 1829) Synonyms: Common Names: Hyla arborea var. savignyi Boulenger, 1882 Maloaziatskaya Kvaksha Russian Hyla arborea savignyi (Audouin, 1829) Order: Anura Family: Hylidae Notes on taxonomy: Hyla savignyi is a member of the Hyla arborea complex. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of H. arborea. A new species of Hyla from Israel, that is related to Hyla savignyi, is currently in press (Yehudah Werner pers. comm.) General Information Biome Terrestrial Freshwater Marine Geographic Range of species: Habitat and Ecology Information: This species is widespread in western Asia and southern The species lives in much drier landscapes than Hyla arborea, Transcaucasia, including Cyprus, Turkey, the Levant, the Arabian including steppes, deserts and semi-deserts. It is also present in Peninsula (the Asir region of southern Saudi Arabia and northern gardens, bush lands, montane forest edges, and areas with permanent Yemen), Iran (Zagrobs region), northern Iraq, Talysh (Azerbaijan) or semi permanent water sources (including oasis) with good northwestwards to Tbilisi, (Georgia). It has also been reported from the surrounding vegetation (eg. Phragmites, Oleander). The species may northeastern region of Sinai, Egypt (first recorded in the early 1990's). be found at considerable distances from waterbodies in xeric It is present from 400m below sea level (Jordan) to above 1,800m. environments, such as rocky slopes and on the xerophytic bush Alhagi pseudoalhagi. Spawning and larval development takes place in small stagnant waterbodies, drainage canals and slow flowing brooks with dense herbaceous and shrub vegetation. The species is able to adapt to light habitat modification, and may be found in rural, or semi-urban, areas where suitable wetland habitat exists.