Midwife toad

Midwife toad
Alytes obstetricans
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Amphibia
Order:
Anura
Family:
Discoglossidae
Genus:
Alytes

Wagler, 1830
Species

Alytes cisternasii Boscá, 1879.
Alytes dickhilleni Arntzen et García-París, 1995.
Alytes maurus Pasteur et Bons, 1962.
Alytes muletensis (Sanchíz et Adrover, 1979).
Alytes obstetricans (Laurenti, 1768).

The Midwife toad (Alytes) is a genus of frogs. They part of the Discoglossidae family. They live in most of Europe and northwestern Africa. They look like toads because of their hard skin. They get their name because they take care of their young on their backs. They help them from not being eaten from hungry animals. When they hatch the frog will go back to the water and allow them to swim away.

Species

Binomial Name and Author Common Name
Alytes cisternasii (Boscá, 1879) Iberian Midwife Toad
Alytes dickhilleni (Arntzen & García Paris, 1995) Betic Midwife Toad
Alytes maurus (Pasteur & Bons, 1962)
Alytes muletensis (Sanchiz & Adrover, 1979) Mallorcan midwife toad
Alytes obstetricans (Laurenti, 1768) Common Midwife Toad

Books

  • Carl Vogt: Untersuchungen über die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Geburtshelferkröte. (Alytes obstetricians), Solothurn: Jent und Gassman, (1842), pp 130
  • Arthur Koestler, The Case of the Midwife Toad, London: Hutchinson, 1971.