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| Subspecies:
| Unknown |
| Est. World Population: |
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| CITES Status: |
NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: |
Least Concern |
| U.S. ESA Status: |
NOT LISTED |
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| Body Length: |
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| Tail Length: |
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| Shoulder Height: |
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| Weight: |
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| Top Speed: |
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| Jumping Ability: |
(Horizontal) |
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| Life Span: |
in the Wild |
| Life Span: |
in Captivity |
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| Sexual Maturity: |
(Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: |
(Males) |
| Litter Size: |
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| Gestation Period: |
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Habitat:
This is a terrestrial species of mountain coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests, from floodplains to the sub alpine belt. The toad prefers wet, shaded sites in forests, bush lands, their edges and glades. It is also known from a variety of modified habitats, including vegetable gardens, hay meadows, parks and residential areas (Iskanderov 2009). It has a preference for forest damp, shaded microhabitats with abundant invertebrate prey, including leaf litter, rodent burrows, and beneath stones or logs (Iskanderov 2009). Spawning occurs in clear, still or slow-flowing water, mainly in brooks, springs and small rivers, but also in puddles, ponds, lakes, seepage pools and fish farms. Natural habitats are frequently used for the development of economy, infrastructure, or are destroyed by felling, grazing, water pollution, etc. Loss of natural sites results in the splitting up of large areas into smaller and isolated fragments, which represents a serious threat. Animals reach reproductive maturity at 3 years old, when they measure 6–7 cm in length (Iskanderov 2009).
Range:
This species occurs in the Transcaucasian region, Azerbaijan, Abkhazya, Georgia, Russia, northeastern Türkiye (Artvin) (Tarkhnishvili 1996,Kutrup et al. 2006, Litvinchuk et al. 2008, Kidov 2009, Kuzmin 2009, Recuero et al. 2012). However recent molecular data also confirmed the presence of the species in southern Türkiye (Antalya, Mersin, Osmaniye, Hatay), Lebanon (Moukhtara) (Garcia-Porta et al. 2012, Arntzen et al. 2013, Jablonski and Sadik 2019, Özdemir et al. 2020) and Syria (Jablonski and Sadik 2019). It is reported from Lake Abant, in the northwest of Türkiye, based on allozyme data (Garcia-Porta et al. 2012, Arntzen et al. 2013) but a recent study based on mtDNA and nDNA sequence analysis, deny the presence of the species, and only found evidence for the presence of B. bufo in this area (Özdemir et al. 2020). In Azerbaijan, it occurs continuously along the southern slopes of the Great Caucasus Ridge (Belokany-Zakalata regions), with some small areas in Kakh, Shekin, Gabalin and Ismaili regions, extending along the tributary Kuban River as far as Khurdzhinovo Village (Alekperov 1978, Iskanderov 2009, S. Litvinchuk pers. comm. November 2010). In Georgia the habitat is a mountain canyon formed by the tributary of the River Kura (Tarkhnishvili 1994). There is also an assumption that the distribution on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus is much wider (Ganiev and Nuriev 2000). Records from Russia's Chechnya region require further verification, and it is not present in Dagestan (Mazanaeva 2000). It occurs from sea level to 3,000 m asl (Iskanderov 2009).
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is listed in the Red Data Books of Azerbaijan and Russia (and in the Red List of Krasnodar Region and Adygea in particular). It has been recorded from several nature reserves in Georgia, Russia and Azerbaijan, one nature park in Türkiye and in two Russian national parks. Outside these areas, the species occurs in localized and seemingly isolated subpopulations (Iskanderov 2009).
Conservation Needed
Actions need to be taken to improve site/habitat protection and management practices. Actions need to taken for management and control invasive and introduced species, e.g. Procyon lotor that by consuming adult toads which could be one of greatest threats to the survival of subpopulations (Iskanderov 2009). The most effective action for the conservation of the species is establishing temporary artificial breeding pools as spawning reservoirs. As it is extremely conservative and site-philopatric, it is necessary to transfer eggs and larvae to the new reservoirs. Special fences and road signs are required at places of mass reproductive migration of adult animals. It is necessary to carry out environmental education, and explain the benefits of the species for agriculture and forestry. Furthermore, actions are needed to manage legislation and enforcement laws and policies to prevent logging and deforestation that destruct the habitat.
Research Needed
Further research is required to understand the population size, distribution and trends, life history and ecology of this species to develop future conservation strategies in its natural habitats. An area-based management plan is needed to set out the research describing the current status, threats and intended methods for increasing population size. In order to determine the relative stability of populations and habitat trends, long-term monitoring is required.
