Israeli frog thought to be extinct, survived the inning - BBC

Biologists from the U.S. confirmed that the frog species Discoglossus nigriventer, which are thought to be extinct in the mid-20th century, still exist on the shores of Lake Hula, reports RIA “Novosti» with reference to Nature Communications.

Discoglossus nigriventer frog species are considered extinct relatives of European frogs of this genus disappeared about 3,5-3 million years ago. Until 2011, it was thought that these amphibians became extinct about the middle of the 20th century, when the Israeli authorities began draining of wetlands around the lake. Three years ago, animal rights activists have found a live specimen at the lake.

Sarig Gafni of Ruppin Academic Center named in Mihmorete (Israel) and his colleagues confirmed that these amphibians were still able to survive the draining of swamps, finding ten frogs on the shore of the lake.

Scientists have confirmed that these individuals were among krugloyazychnyh frogs (Alytidae), which include the “extinct” Israeli amphibians. Similar results were obtained in the genome. Based on the differences in genes with other species of the number Alytidae, Frog Lake Hula separated from their western relatives some 32 million years ago.

Gaffney and his colleagues also found that Israeli frogs were closer in anatomy to be extinct amphibians of the genus Latonia, which are only indirectly relatives krugloyazychnyh frogs. Therefore, biologists propose to transfer decorated with frogs in the genus, renaming them Latonia nigriventer, which allows them to recognize the “living fossil».