Description
There are two color pattern varieties in this species. Plain colors, like dark brown, dark gray, reddish or red-brown, or individuals with dark brown spots. In the latter case, these spots are not light edged. The belly is a yellowish white. Although this species has a similar markings as to D. sardus it can be distinguished from D. sardus by a number of features. The fourth finger of D. sardus is wider than the base right after the tip, whereas the fourth finger of D. montalenti gets thinner from the base down. D. sardus also has shorter hind legs than D. montalenti (Noellert and Noellert 1992).. D. montalenti differs from all other species of Discoglossus in lacking a squamosal-maxillary articulation (Clarke and Lanza 1990).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: France

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (1 records).

D. montalenti is endemic to Corsica. It is mostly found in the central part of the island, from Corte and Cervione in the north to Porto-Vecchio in the south (Noellert and Noellert 1992). It is found in fresh water, seemingly preferring streams traversing woods and forests. D. montalenti lives partially sympatric, and in some localities even syntopic with its congener D. sardus. Due to its recent discovery as a cryptic congener of D. sardus, very little is known about the exact distribution and ecology of D. montalenti. Earlier studies on the biology of D. sardus may be attributed to either D. sardus or D. montalenti. D. montalenti seems to prefer running water of higher localities, whereas D. sardus lives at lower elevations and prefers slow running, stagnant and even brackish water (Gasc 1997).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Although there is a clear ecological distinction between D. montalenti and D. sardus, their biology has not been studied separately. Therefore, accounts of the biology of D. sardus may well include observations on D. montalenti.

Trends and Threats
The status of D. montalenti is not exactly known. The small number of suitable habitats on Corsica should be maintained in order to ensure the survival of D. montalenti.

References

Clarke, B. T. and Lanza, B. (1990). ''Notes on the morphology and distribution of the Corsican Painted Frogs: Discoglossus sardus Tschudi and D. montalentii Lanza, Nascetti, Capula & Bullini.'' Bulletino del museo regionale di scienze naturali, Torino, 8(2), 531-544.

Gasc, J.-P. (1997). Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Bonn, Germany.

Nöllert, A. and Nöllert, C. (1992). Die Amphibien Europas. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH and Company, Stuttgart.

Stumpel-Rieks, S. E. (1992). Nomina Herpetofaunae Europaeae. AULA-Verlag, Wiesbaden.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2021 Discoglossus montalentii: Corsican Painted Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/1525> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed May 21, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 21 May 2025.

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