The Karpathos Frog, Pelophylax cerigensis, is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM and is one of the most endangered frogs due to its isolated, small range. It is endemic to the island of Karpathos in Greece, and found only in a single river in the north of the island. Its range is thought to be only 10 km2. This frog is largely aquatic and can be found in slow-moving streams and permanent still waters. It is one of only three amphibian species endemic to Greece, with all three limited to small islands. the other species are the Cretan Frog, which can only be found in Crete, and the Karpathos Lycian Salamander, which is found on Karpathos, Kasos, and Saria.
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Habitat loss is the biggest threat to the species. Its extent of occurrence is less than 100km2 and it is potentially sensitive to habitat modification, including excessive freshwater abstraction. However, fire also poses a threat to species survival and it is likely to be vulnerable to climate change.
The Karpathos Frog is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention. Research is needed on its current distribution and population numbers, as well as its captive husbandry. As the species appears to occur solely on a single river, protection, management and monitoring needs to occur to safeguard the habitat and thus the species from further threats or extinction. There are currently no known breeding programs for this species.
Submit your observations of this species to iNaturalist and they will appear on this map. Learn more about this species on Amphibiaweb.
More Amazing Amphibians here.
Produced in partnership with:
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How to become an Amazing Amphibians partner:
Outlined below are the roles and responsibilities for the 4 different levels of involvement for potential partners. If your organization would like to be a part of the Amazing Amphibians program in either of these capacities please email amazing@amphibians.org.
Senior Partner – These partners will help with multiple aspects of the program, help facilitate the completion of several species profiles, publicize each Amazing Amphibian and will likely have a landing page for the program on their website. This level of partner will be leading in using their communication channels to gather additional information for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Strategic Partner – These partners will play an active role in creating species profiles, submitting at least three species profiles per year and actively use their social network to publicize each Amazing Amphibian. This level of partner will be active in using their communication channels to gather additional information for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Focal Partner – Partners tend to be active in a limited geographic area. This partner will submit at least one regional species profile per year and use their social network to publicize each Amazing Amphibian. This level of partner will be involved in using their communication channels to gather additional information at a regional level for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Affiliate – These partners are interested in promoting the program but might not be in a position to provide profiles. These partners will publicize each Amazing Amphibian through the social media outlets.
The Kihansi Spray Toad, Nectophrynoides asperginis, is listed as ‘Extinct in the Wild’ on the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species
