Israel painted frog

The Israel painted frog (Discoglossus nigriventer) is an endangered amphibian, whose range is limited to Israel.

This species was known from the eastern shores of the Hula wetlands (Lake Hula) in Northern Israel, and possible in adjacent parts of Syria (Syrian Arab Republic). The species inhabited freshwater swamp areas.

The wetlands where this species relied on were drained for mainly agricultural purposes in the 1950’s like making the land suitable for agriculture, but also in an attempt to eradicate malaria. Of the original 60 km² of wetlands, only an area of 3.20 km² has remained. Although this remaining area was set aside as a nature reserve in 1964, this could not prevent the extinction of certain endemic species, including the Palestinian Painted Frog . This species has not been reported since 1955, when Steinitz collected it.

Of this species only 2 specimens exist. One type specimen, collected by Mendelssohn in 1940, and 1 collected by Steinitz in 1955. The 2 tadpole paratypes have been lost.