Pelodytes caucasicus: Caucasian Parsley Frog

Caucasian Parsley Frog - Pelodytes caucasicus
( Boulenger, 1896 )

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Subspecies:	Unknown
Est. World Population:

CITES Status:	NOT LISTED
IUCN Status:	Least Concern
U.S. ESA Status:	NOT LISTED

Body Length:
Tail Length:
Shoulder Height:
Weight:

Top Speed:
Jumping Ability:	(Horizontal)

Life Span:	in the Wild
Life Span:	in Captivity

Sexual Maturity:	(Females)
Sexual Maturity:	(Males)
Litter Size:
Gestation Period:

Habitat:

This species is associated with dark humid broad-leaved and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, and is rarely found in more open coniferous forests, as well as sub-alpine and alpine zones (Terentjev and Chernov 1965, Golubev 1985, Başoğlu et al. 1994, Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili 1999, Dzuev and Ivanov 2000, Tuniyev and Tuniyev 2012, Lotiev and Tuniyev 2017, Tuniyev 2018). It inhabits very wet terrestrial biotopes with high soil moisture content, rich in food (terrestrial and water invertebrates), natural shelters (forest litter, stones, fallen trees, etc) and additionally natural water bodies such as shores and banks of ponds, lakes, rivers and streams with a very shaded, dense vegetation (trees, bushes and grasses) (Golubev 1980, Iskanderov 2009, Gül 2014, Litvinchuk and Kidov 2018). It is a nocturnal species and adults can be found in shady damp areas, sheltering under stones, leaves and other cover during the day. This species breeds in slow moving, clean and clear water, also pools along river banks, backwaters and creeks located deep within the forests, far from its boundaries with 446–492 eggs laid (depending on the size of female) during the warm breeding season (generally May to Oct and June to August in mountains) (Arikan et al. 2007, Golubev 1980, Kuzmin 2013).

Range:

This species is endemic to the Caucasian Isthmus and is distributed in the mountainous areas of the eastern Black Sea region of Türkiye (northern Anatolia), northern and southwest Georgia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, northwestern Azerbaijan (the Belokany part of Zakatala State Reserve ) and the Russian Federation (Nikolsky 1896, 1913; Chanturishvili 1940; Rotter 1958; Zhordania 1960; Steiner 1968; Golubev 1980; Başoğlu et al. 1994; Tarkhnishvili 1996; Franzen 1999; Afsar et al. 2012, 2018; Gül 2014; Iskanderov 2009; Litvinchuk and Kidov 2018; Beşir and Gül 2019; Çiçek et al. 2019; Tuniyev et al. 2020). In Russia, the species occurs in six regions; in the autonomous republics of Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Chechnya and Krasnodarsky Krai (Kuzmin 2013). The occurrence of the species was assumed in the Dagestan Republic of Russia (Askenderov 2017). It occurs from sea level up to 2,300 m asl.

Conservation:

Conservation Actions In-Place
The species occurs in the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve and Sochi National Park. It is present in several protected areas of Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye (Kaçkar Mountains National Park). It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention, Red Data Books of Russia, Georgia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, the republics of Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Chechnya, and Krasnodarsky Krai of Russia (Kacharava 1982; Udovkin and Lipkovich 1999; Dzuev and Ivanov 2000; Kuzmin 2000; Lotiev 2007; Tuniyev and Tuniyev 2012, 2017; Doronin 2013; Lotiev and Tuniyev 2017).

Conservation Needed
Actions need to be taken to improve site and habitat protection and management practices. For the conservation of the species, it is necessary to identify spawning water bodies and organize micro-reserves (Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili 1999, Tuniyev and Tuniyev 2017). Puddles and ditches along poorly exploited forest roads are often used by the Caucasian Parsley Frog as breeding sites (Golubev 1980), therefore, to enlarge the population of this species, the best solution would be digging of new water bodies in such places. It is also necessary to create shelters from fallen trees near breeding sites and, perhaps, organize protection of spawning sites against raccoons with the use of mesh fences (Litvinchuk and Kidov 2018). Furthermore, actions are also needed to manage legislation and enforcement laws and policies to prevent logging and deforestation that destroys 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 sizes. In order to determine the relative stability of subpopulations and habitat trends, long-term monitoring is required.