The population of the midwife toad is growing slowly, but it remains in danger

PalmaThe population of ferreret, Alytes muletensis, an endemic frog of Europe and restricted to the Serra de Tramuntana, is growing slowly although it continues to be listed as an endangered species in the first Spanish Red List of Endangered Species, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature presented this Friday within the framework of World Biodiversity Day. According to the list, consulted by Europa Press, the population is approximately 500 to 1,500 adult pairs, although it is growing slowly thanks to coordinated recovery efforts after a long period of decline and near extinction. The current increase, which probably began around the time the first reintroductions were made in 1989, has been maintained even during years of drought, notably in 1999-2000.

This species is restricted to the Serra de Tramuntana and its area of occupancy is uncertain but probably larger than 50 square kilometers. It is currently found only in small streams deeply cut into limestone mountains and its presence is associated with steep slopes. The main threats are predation by the water snake ('Natrix maura') and competition for space with the common frog ('Rana perezi').

Other endangered species

The list also places the Ibiza wall lizard 'Podarcis pityusensis', endemic to Ibiza and Formentera, as an endangered species, threatened by visitor disturbance, the introduction of cats and rats to the islands, and the invasive horseshoe snake.

The precise rate of decline in the next ten years is uncertain, and data from Formentera is limited, but models suggest that the invasive snake could colonize the entire island of Ibiza by 2028, with the likely consequence that the Ibiza wall lizard could be lost completely shortly thereafter.

Endemic shrubs

For its part, St. John's wort ('Hypericum balearicum'), an endemic shrub of the Balearic Islands, common in the Serra de Tramuntana and also present in Cabrera, Menorca and Ibiza, is stable and in the 'least concern' category. Regarding this shrub, it is known to have medicinal and ornamental value and, as can be inferred from the list.

Also listed as an endangered species is 'Daphne rodriguezii' or 'Menorcan daphne', a woody plant belonging to the 'Thymelaeaceae' family.

The list, available through the website 'listarojanacionalesp.org' and which is still in "a beta version", reports that in Spain there are a total of 471 threatened species, of which 75 are critically endangered, 182 endangered and 214 are vulnerable species.

Experts have evaluated a total of 1,545 species in Spain, of which 954 have a low risk of extinction: 280 are near threatened and 674 are of least concern. In addition, there are 168 species for which data are insufficient.