The Iberian Painted
Frog or Sapillo Pintojo Ibérico (Discoglossus galganoi) is a species of frog in the Discoglossidae family. It is found in Portugal and Spain. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, sandy shores, arable land, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The reproductive period of D. galganoi starts in October, and ends in late summer. During this period, the female can produce up to six clutches, each of 300 to 1500 eggs. Over the entire breeding season, she can produce as many as 4900-5600 eggs. Each female mates with a number of males, and each mating she produces 20 to 50 eggs.
These eggs are laid singularly or as small clumps on the bottom, or are attached to plants. Eggs have a diameter of 1.5-2 mm, the gelatinous envelope measuring 6-8 mm. Depending on water temperature, the embryonic development takes 2 to 6 days. Larvae are 3mm in length upon hatching, and grow to a total length of 25 to 35 mm. The diurnal larvae are mostly found in December, March and May. Larval development takes 22 to 60 days, and newly metamorphosed
frogs have a snout-vent length of about 10 mm. Sexual maturity is reached at an age of 3-5 years for males, and at an age of about 4 years for females. Total life span is estimated at about 9 years.
D. galganoi is active when water temperatures rise above 9°C. The optimum temperatures for this species is between 21 and 30°C. The animals become inactive when the relative humidity of the air drops below 45% (Noellert and Noellert 1992).