Sicilian Green Toad
Encyclopedia
The Sicilian Green Toad is a green toad
found only in Sicily
.
This toad previously attributed to the Bufo viridis
is now recognized as a separate species (Bufo siculus). Recent studies on the Mediterranean populations of Bufo spp. demonstrated that this Sicilian taxon has a distinct mitochondrial
haplotype
differing in this respect from all other circum-Mediterranean green toad species. It is instead closely related to Bufo boulengeri a North African species of Bufo, from which it separated two million years ago between the Middle Pliocene
and the Pleistocene
.
Bufo
Bufo is a large genus of about 150 species of true toads in the amphibian family Bufonidae. Bufo is a Latin word for toad.- Description :...
found only in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
This toad previously attributed to the Bufo viridis
European Green Toad
The species group of the green toads is an anuran group toad found in mainland Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. They live in many areas, including steppes, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, and urban areas...
is now recognized as a separate species (Bufo siculus). Recent studies on the Mediterranean populations of Bufo spp. demonstrated that this Sicilian taxon has a distinct mitochondrial
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
haplotype
Haplotype
A haplotype in genetics is a combination of alleles at adjacent locations on the chromosome that are transmitted together...
differing in this respect from all other circum-Mediterranean green toad species. It is instead closely related to Bufo boulengeri a North African species of Bufo, from which it separated two million years ago between the Middle Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
and the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
.