Home / Pelophylax caralitanus (Beyşehir Frog, Arikan's Frog / Beyşehir Kurbağası, Arıkan'ın Kurbağası)
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Pelophylax caralitanus (Beyşehir Frog, Arikan's Frog / Beyşehir Kurbağası, Arıkan'ın Kurbağası)

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Pelophylax caralitanus (Beyşehir Frog, Arikan's Frog / Beyşehir Kurbağası, Arıkan'ın Kurbağası)


Pelophylax caralitanus (Beyşehir Frog, Arikan's Frog / Beyşehir Kurbağası, Arıkan'ın Kurbağası) from Elmalı, Antalya.

Anatolian Marsh Frog is an endemic species of Turkey which is mainly widespread in the western parts of Central Anatolia (Konya, Ankara & Eskişehir provinces). It also known from some eastern parts of Aegean region, including Afyon, Isparta, Burdur, Muğla & Denizli provinces) and the northern parts of Antalya province (Mediterranean region) up to elevations approx. 1800 m. The specific name came after Beyşehir Lake, the former name of which is “Lake Caralis” which is the type locality of the species.

It is strongly aquatic, inhabits lakes, pools or slowly flowing streams with much or less vegetation. It stays in close proximity of water bodies. Food spectrum comprises various invertebrates, and, occasionally, also small vertebrates. The biology, general body shape and size (SVL up to 13 cm) are similar to other marsh frogs (Euro-Caucasian Common Marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus, Asiatic Levantine Marsh P. bedriagae and European Edible frog P. exculentus) by having dorsolateral skin folds, vertebral stripe (approx. 50%), two vocal sacs in males and no temporal stripes. However, this species is easily distinguished from all other similar species by having the vermiculate orange coloured maculations covering the venters, including the ventral aspects of head, fore and hind extremities.

References: 1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips. 2. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008]. 3. Arıkan, H. (1988). On a new form of Rana ridibunda (Anura, Ranidae) from Turkey. Istanbul Üniv. Fen. Fak. Biyoloji Der., 53: 81-87. 4. Franzen, M., Bußmann, M., Kordges, T. & Thiesmeier, B. (2008). Die Amphibien und Reptilien der Südwest-Turkei. Supplement der Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 14, Laurenti Verlag, Bielefeld, Germany, 328pp.

Author Bayram GÖÇMEN
Created on Saturday 04 September 2010
Posted on Thursday 20 January 2011
Tags Antalya, TURKEY / TÜRKİYE
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