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The rediscovered Hula painted frog is a living fossil

Author

Listed:
  • Rebecca Biton

    (National Natural History Collections, Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Eli Geffen

    (Tel Aviv University)

  • Miguel Vences
  • Orly Cohen

    (Tel Aviv University)

  • Salvador Bailon

    (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7209–7194 du CNRS)

  • Rivka Rabinovich

    (National Natural History Collections, Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Yoram Malka

    (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

  • Talya Oron

    (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

  • Renaud Boistel

    (IPHEP, UMR CNRS 6046, Université de Poitiers)

  • Vlad Brumfeld

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Sarig Gafny

Abstract

Amphibian declines are seen as an indicator of the onset of a sixth mass extinction of life on earth. Because of a combination of factors such as habitat destruction, emerging pathogens and pollutants, over 156 amphibian species have not been seen for several decades, and 34 of these were listed as extinct by 2004. Here we report the rediscovery of the Hula painted frog, the first amphibian to have been declared extinct. We provide evidence that not only has this species survived undetected in its type locality for almost 60 years but also that it is a surviving member of an otherwise extinct genus of alytid frogs, Latonia, known only as fossils from Oligocene to Pleistocene in Europe. The survival of this living fossil is a striking example of resilience to severe habitat degradation during the past century by an amphibian.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Biton & Eli Geffen & Miguel Vences & Orly Cohen & Salvador Bailon & Rivka Rabinovich & Yoram Malka & Talya Oron & Renaud Boistel & Vlad Brumfeld & Sarig Gafny, 2013. "The rediscovered Hula painted frog is a living fossil," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2959
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2959
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