Osservazioni preliminari sulla fenologia riproduttiva della popolazione di rospo smeraldino, Bufo viridis Laurenti, 1768, della Riserva Naturale di Monte Pellegrino (Palermo)

Preliminar observation about reproduction phenology of the green toad population in the natural reserve of “Monte Pellegrino” (Sicily). The Green toad is one of the six species of amphibias actually living in Sicily, the only one that has colonised some of small islands (Ustica and Lampedusa). The sicilian populations are, neverthless, the most meridional of european distribution and subject to insularity. The reproductive period of one population of north-west Sicily that we have studied, has began at the beginning of january, with a result of anticipation of minimum one month respect of the periods analysed by others authors in different italian countries. it could be explaned not only with the positive clima, because ofthe low latitude, but even for the big body size of this population that gives influence in positive manner to the activity of the species.The non reproduction during the autumnal months that usually happen in the Ustica island, where latitude, precipitations and temperature are almost similar to the “Monte Pellegrino” area, could be depend with the low percentage of humidity that influences in opposite manner into the mouvement of the Green toad in direction of the reproduction site.