Occurrence of the alien Bedriaga's frog (Rana bedriagae) Camerano, 1882 in the Maltese Islands, and implications for conservation

Abstract

We document the occurrence of Bedriaga’s frog Rana bedriagae Camerano, 1882 in the freshwater pool of L-Ghadira ta’ Sarraflu on the island of Gozo, one of the very few naturally occurring permanent bodies of water in the Maltese Islands, and a protected site. The frog is an alien species that appears to have been deliberately introduced in the late 1990s and to have established a breeding population at Ta’ Sarraflu and possibly at two other sites on Gozo and at one site on Malta. Spread of the alien seems to be through human agency, not natural dispersal. Occurrence of the alien frog may have an impact on the only native amphibian, the Painted frog Discoglossus pictus pictus Otth, 1837, a protected species, as well as on the biota of the freshwater systems where the alien occurs, which are within or in close proximity to, protected sites and candidate Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation.