Mallorcan Midwife Toads - For AlexM!

[Saedcantas]

You wanted to get an idea of how we keep Alytes muletensis here at Durrell in Jersey, so here they are (some really naff pics here amongst the rest, nabbed them at the end of the day, clearly on the wrong setting!)

The pics are not of the main breeding project animals, I'll get some of those another time. They're of a small group of 22 that I had marked and was monitoring since arriving in Jersey in Jan 07.

1 month post met - Aug 2007


Jan 2008;







And now, 2 years post met, Aug 09;











We have these guys, the animals on exhibit and a greenhouse full of breeding groups from different Torrents like this (pic nabbed from google);


We produce around ~300 tadpoles per year I love their Spanish common name, "Ferreret", It means little Ironworker, because of the peeping/plinking call they make, supercute!

Cheers!
Lotte***

[sean k]

they look really cool, well done with the breeding....

[TheToad888]

Wow... Breeding... I'm going to try and breed amphibians next year...
Grr... used to get these where i came from... Loved 'em.
Their calls were brilliant.
They're not available anywhere though

[Saedcantas]

I don't want to misrepresent the breeding!

Durrell have been breeding this amphibian since 1985! (the year I was born!!!) So successfully infact that the species is the only amphibian to have been brought back to a "Vulnerable" status from "Critically Endangered". I just happen to be part of a team continuing the work

Mallorcan Midwife Toad | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Cheers
Lotte***

[TheToad888]

Originally Posted by Saedcantas

I don't want to misrepresent the breeding!

Durrell have been breeding this amphibian since 1985! (the year I was born!!!) So successfully infact that the species is the only amphibian to have been brought back to a "Vulnerable" status from "Critically Endangered". I just happen to be part of a team continuing the work

Mallorcan Midwife Toad | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Cheers
Lotte***

Oooo... Thats brilliant. I love those toads...

[Alex M]

How much was that TNT from Jersey to Swanage again?...



Lotte, this is fantastic, i'm very grateful for the effort you went to for me (and also for the benefit of the other amphibian enthusiasts on here). I absolutely adore ferrerets and have always been interested in 'Durrells and Gobles' excellent efforts into saving a species that could so nearly of been wiped out due to the introduction of Natrix maura etc etc.

I would love to see Durrells do something with Speleomantes or Proteus anguinus, another vulnerable European amphiban... Don't suppose you have any there do you?

Will have to come out and visit sometime... This is all 'right up my street'

Al x

[Saedcantas]

It is absolutely right up your street! You know you're welcome to pop over

We don't work directly with many other European species, we do support European projects via contacts etc. though.

The Durrell mission focuses on areas of highest endemism - Islands and Highlands. It's all detailed up to date here;
Durrell conservation programme

We can't help everyone, so we look for the "little brown jobs" that are most overlooked or most desperate

Our current ex-situ for release to the wild projects in Herps are Mountain Chickens - Leptodactylus fallax, Agile frogs - Rana dalmatina and Lesser Night Geckos - Nactus coindemirensis.

[Dendroman]

great work are these being bred for the hobby or to be released back to the wild i have to say i am a big fan of european amphibians and think many are over looked

Matt

[Saedcantas]

Originally Posted by Dendroman

great work are these being bred for the hobby or to be released back to the wild i have to say i am a big fan of european amphibians and think many are over looked

Matt

They continue to breed themselves The resulting tadpoles are part of continuing research into the species and Chytrid.

You could always go for some A. obstetricians from Alex

[Dendroman]

Originally Posted by Saedcantas

They continue to breed themselves The resulting tadpoles are part of continuing research into the species and Chytrid.

You could always go for some A. obstetricians from Alex

Cool great work , i would love some Obstetricians just not looking for some at the mo