The Iberian Midwife Toad
By Breeyonna Williams
The Iberian Midwife Toad
The Iberian Midwife Toad is a squat rough-skinned amphibian that belongs to an ancient family that strayed from all other amphibians around 210 million years ago. This species is currently central to Southern and Eastern Portugal and Western and Central Spain. The Iberian Midwife Toads' population is steadily decreasing and it's because of this that although it is currently qualified as near threatened on the IUCN redlist it is dangerously close to being qualified as vulnerable.
The Iberian Midwife Toad
The Iberian Midwife Toad
Habitat of the Iberian Midwife Toad
Conservation
Threats to the Iberian Midwife Toad
The Iberian Midwife Toad's population is dwindling due to an accelerated destruction of its Mediterranean forest habitat which is caused by deforestation and logging. On top of that, the Iberian Midwife Toads' habitat is also endangered by pollution of its aquatic habitats, the construction of canals and dams and the introduction of predatory fishes and the Louisiana crayfish. And finally, a potential threat to the Iberian Midwife Toad is the devastating chytrid fungus which causes the disease chytridiomycosis which has already affected the closely-related common midwife toad in Spain which could also become near threatened like the Iberian Midwife Toad.
Near Threatened
Spain and Portugal
Iberian Midwife Toad
Conservation Actions
The Iberian Midwife Toad is currently a near threatened species on the edge of vulnerability. Now you may believe that since it's not extinct yet that you don't have to do anything. But now is the best time to act because this species still has a chance! Now you're probably wondering; how do I save this magnificent species? Well, I'll tell you how.Currently the Iberian Midwife Toad is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention which aims to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats and to promote European co-operation in conservation and is included on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive and is protected by national legislation in Spain. The Iberian Midwife Toad is also known to Cabañeros and Doñana National Parks in Spain. If you want to join in on the conservation of the Iberian Midwife Toad all you have to do is to closely monitor this species especially due to the growing threat of chytridiomycosis. If you do this small thing; take part in this tiny action, you can help save the Iberian Midwife Toad. SAVE THE WORLDS ANIMALS. SAVE THE IBERIAN MIDWIFE TOAD.