Observations on the natural history of the painted frog Discoglossus pictus pictus (Amphibia : Anura : Discoglossidae) in the Maltese Island (Central Mediterranean)

Abstract

The painted frog, Discoglossus pictus Otth, is the only amphibian presently inhabiting the Maltese Islands. This species is native, fossilized remains having been found in local deposits of Pleistocene age (Bate, 1935; Boessneck & Kuver, 1970). Currently, the painted frog is found on Malta and Gozo, the two largest inhabited islands, but it has not been reported from Comino, the third main island, or from any of the smaller islets (Schembri, 1983). The nominate subspecies is known only from Sicily and the Maltese Islands (Lanza el aI., 1986) and in the latter is considered to be threatened (Lanfranco & Schembri, 1989).