Whilst birdwatching the Talea’a Valley we found a large pool of water with several
Arabian Skittering Frogs. This is only the second time I have seen this frog in
Saudi Arabia. The Arabian Skittering Frog or Arabian Five-fingered Frog
Euphlyctis ehrenbergii a species of frog in the Dicroglossidae family found in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It has
previoulsy been treated as a subspecies of the Skittering Frog Euphlyctis
cyanophlyctis, but is now considered as a valid species. The frog is restricted
to areas of permanent and temporary water in the Red Sea coastal region of
Yemen and Saudi Arabia. An aquatic species, it can also be present in irrigated
area where it is extremely common or abundant. It has an altitudinal range from
sea level to 2,400 metres above sea level and lays its eggs in water. The
species may aestivate during the dry season, meaning it spends the hot or dry
period in a prolonged state of torpor or dormancy.
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