Pelobates balcanicus
| Pelobates balcanicus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Subspecies P. b. chloeae in Greece | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Pelobatidae |
| Genus: | Pelobates |
| Species: | P. balcanicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pelobates balcanicus Karaman, 1928 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Pelobates balcanicus, commonly called the Balkan spadefoot, is a species of toad in the family Pelobatidae, native to the Balkan Peninsula, with ranges in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye.[1]
Taxonomy
Long considered a subspecies of Pelobates syriacus, phylogenetic evidence demonstrated that it is a standalone species in 2019.[3]
The Balkan spadefoot has two subspecies:[2]
- P. b. balcanicus - The nominate subspecies occurs over most of the species' range.[3]
- P. b. chloeae - Occurs near type location of Metochi, Peloponnese, and perhaps elsewhere on the island.[3]
References
- 1 2 Dufresnes, C.; Cogălniceanu, D.; Stănescu, F.; Strachinis, I. (2024). "Pelobates balcanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T172312067A228186498. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T172312067A228186498.en.
- 1 2 Frost, D. (2026). "Pelobates balcanicus Karaman, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World 6.2, an Online Reference. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Dufresnes, C.; Strachinis, I.; Tzoras, E.; Litvinchuk, S.N.; Denoël, M. (2019). "Call a spade a spade: taxonomy and distribution of Pelobates, with description of a new Balkan endemic". ZooKeys (859): 131–158. Bibcode:2019ZooK..859..131D. doi:10.3897/zookeys.859.33634. PMC 6616056. PMID 31327926.