description Iberian Midwife Toad Overview
The Iberian Midwife Toad (Alytes cisternasii) is a small amphibian endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, described by Spanish zoologist Eduardo Boscá in 1879. It is distinguished from the closely related common midwife toad by its rougher, more granular skin and its more restricted range across western and central Spain and Portugal. As with other midwife toads, males carry fertilized eggs wound around their hind legs until they hatch.
help Iberian Midwife Toad FAQ
Where is the Iberian Midwife Toad found?
Alytes cisternasii is endemic to Portugal and western Spain. Its type locality is near Mérida and Alange in Badajoz, Spain. [Amphibian Species of the World](https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Alytidae/Alytes/Alytes-cisternasii)
Why is it called a midwife toad?
The name refers to the male's unusual breeding behavior. After mating, the male wraps the egg strings around his hind legs and carries them until the embryos are ready to hatch. [Iberian Midwife Toad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_midwife_toad)
How is the Iberian Midwife Toad different from the common midwife toad?
The Iberian species has rougher, more granular skin and a more restricted range in the Iberian Peninsula. The common midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans, occupies a much wider area of southwestern and western Europe. [Amphibian Species of the World](https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Alytidae/Alytes/Alytes-cisternasii)
Who described Alytes cisternasii?
Spanish zoologist Eduardo Boscá described the species in 1879. Its scientific name is therefore written Alytes cisternasii Boscá, 1879. [Amphibian Species of the World](https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Alytidae/Alytes/Alytes-cisternasii)
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