Pelophylax cretensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	RANIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pelophylax cretensis

Species Authority:

(Beerli, Hotz, Tunner, Heppich and Uzzell, 1994)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Cretan Frog

Synonym/s:

Rana cretensis Beerli, Hotz, Tunner, Heppich and Uzzell, 1994

Taxonomic Notes:

The species status of Pelophylax cretensis is "confirmed" by short mtDNA sequences and a large number of private allozyme alleles not found in any other water frog (P. Beerli pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

Peter Beerli, Thomas Uzzell, Petros Lymberakis

Reviewer/s:

Cox, N. and Temple, H.J. (Global Amphibian Assessment)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Endangered, because its extent of occurrence is less than 5,000 km2 and area of occupancy is less than 500 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

History:

2004

–

Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to the island of Crete, Greece, where it is patchily distributed in the lowlands over a wide area generally below 100m asl.
Countries:	Native: Greece
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It does not appear to be particularly abundant, and is especially difficult to find in dry years.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is associated with wetlands including slow-moving rivers and streams, lakes and marshes. Breeding and larval development presumably take place in these waterbodies.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The loss of aquatic habitats is the principal threat to this species. Extraction of stream water in the uplands for agricultural irrigation (for bananas) leaves many lowland reaches dry during the summer months. Additional habitat loss may be occurring through infrastructure and tourism development. It might be impacted by the introduction of Lithobates catesbeiana.

Major Threat(s):

The loss of aquatic habitats is the principal threat to this species. Extraction of stream water in the uplands for agricultural irrigation (for bananas) leaves many lowland reaches dry during the summer months. Additional habitat loss may be occurring through infrastructure and tourism development. It might be impacted by the introduction of Lithobates catesbeiana.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The species is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention. Although it occurs in many protected areas, several are not well protected or managed for biodiversity conservation. Further research into the population status and distribution of this species is urgently needed.

Conservation Actions:

The species is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention. Although it occurs in many protected areas, several are not well protected or managed for biodiversity conservation. Further research into the population status and distribution of this species is urgently needed.

Citation:	Peter Beerli, Thomas Uzzell, Petros Lymberakis 2009. Pelophylax cretensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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