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New records of the Common Spadefoot , (Anura: Pelobatidae), in Bosnia and Herzegovina

GORAN ŠUKALO 1, MARA ĐEKI Ć1, DUŠKA ĐUKI Ć1, SONJA ĐOR ĐEVI Ć2 and LJILJANA TOMOVI Ć2,3

1University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Science. Mladena Stojanovi ća 2, 78000 Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology. Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, 3University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stankovi ć”. Despota Stefana Blvd. 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Received 11 July 2014 │ Accepted 7 August 2014 │ Published online 10 August 2014.

Two species of the genus Pelobates occur on the Balkan Peninsula: P. fuscus and P. syriacus (Džuki ć et al. 2005, 2008). Their distribution is restricted to areas with sandy soils and to deciduous forests on loamy soils (Džuki ć et al. 2005). Pelobates species are among the most elusive European hence it is hard to confirm their presence with certainty (Džuki ć et al. 2005). Due to their secretive behaviour, life history traits of these are relatively poorly documented (Rot-Nik čevi ć et al. 2001; Cogalniceanu et al. 2013a,b). Spadefoot toads are highly specialized and occupy fairly narrow ecological niche (Džuki ć et al. 2008; Cog ălniceanu et al. 2013a). Except during the breeding season, adults are strictly nocturnal (Džuki ć et al. 2005); they spend most of daytime and drier and/or windy periods hidden in deep burrows (Nyström et al. 2002; Džuki ć et al. 2008). Spadefoot toads reproduce in permanent and semi-permanent water bodies. Among European amphibians, Pelobates sp. has the largest tadpoles (Cog ălniceanu et al. 2013a). Larval period lasts as long as 2–4 months (Džuki ć et al. 2008). Some larvae may survive winter in pools, and undergo during the following summer (Kuzmin 1999; Nyström et al. 2002). Džuki ć et al. (2008) provided detailed data concerning the distribution of Pelobates sp. in the Balkans. Pelobates fuscus inhabits lowlands and hills in the western, central, and (Nöllert 1997), and northern parts of the Balkan Peninsula (Radovanovi ć 1951). In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the only record of Pelobates fuscus was provided by Obratil (1980/81), for the marshy ecosystem Barda ča (45°06 ′ N, 17°26 ′ E, Figure 1): a single P. fuscus specimen was found in the prey of the black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax , during the diet analysis of ichthyophagous birds. Here we provide two new records for Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republic of Srpska) (Figure 1). On February 27 th 2014, in the Liješ će settlement (Bosanski Brod municipality, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina: 45°05.084 ′N, 018°04.739 ′E, 107 m a.s.l.), we found three Pelobates fuscus individuals (Figure 2) trapped in a manhole . Their standard body lengths were 48.3 mm, 44.7 mm and 41.8 mm, while their body weights were 9.9 g, 7.8 g and 6.8 g, respectively. In later survey of the surroundings of the given manhole, we observed a semi-permanent aquatic ecosystem, a canal filled with water, where the search for Pelobates tadpoles shall be intensified. On the 7 th of May 2014 in the village Sitneši (municipality of Srbac, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina: 45°03.122 ′N, 017°32.241 ′E, 118 m a.s.l.) we found another P. fuscus individual (Figure 3). Its standard body length was 52.1 mm, while its body weight was 14.3 g.

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Figure 1 . Literature (Barda ča) and new distribution data (Sitneši and Liješ će) of Pelobates fuscus in Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Figure 2 . Pelobates fuscus individuals found in Liješ će.

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NEW RECORDS OF PELOBATES FUSCUS

The data we presented herein are the second and third finding of P. fuscus in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and are unambiguous. Therefore, we find it necessary to intensify research in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina where habitats are suitable for spadefoot toads. According to the IUCN, Pelobates fuscus is categorized as Least Concerned (LC) (Agasyan et al. 2009), while in the bordering countries it has various conservation categories. In Croatia, it is listed as strictly protected, and in the Red Book of Amphibians and Reptiles of Croatia it is given as Data Deficient (Jeli ć et al. 2012). In Serbia, it is also strictly protected (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 36/09). In the Republic of Srpska, Pelobates fuscus is included in the Red List of protected species. In most of its distribution range, populations of Pelobates fuscus are declining (Nöllert 1997; Eggert et al. 2006; Džuki ć et al. 2008). Given that Pelobates fuscus is recorded at three localities only, we suggest that more comprehensive studies should be conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to assess this species’ population status and adequate conservation measures.

Figure 3 . Pelobates fuscus found in the Sitneši settlement.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Danijel Vasi ć, a 7 th grade pupil of the “Liješće” primary school, for his help in discovering a new locality for P. fuscus .

References

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