Caucasian toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814), (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Caspian Sea basin (Russian Caucasus)

The Caucasian toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814), is a typical representative of the West Caucasian forest mesophilic batrachofauna, requiring special protection measures. The known habitat of the species in the Russian part of the Caucasus was limited to the Black Sea basin. In the course of the studies undertaken, the Caucasian toad was found in many localities of the Predgorny district of the Stavropol territory (Caspian Sea basin), where at present relatively favorable natural conditions have developed for it. The possibility of finding the species in the republics located to the east, up to Dagestan, is not excluded. In order to preserve the existing populations of the B. verrucosissimus in the Caucasian Mineralnye Vody region, it is necessary to optimize the network of specially protected natural areas, and create artificial spawning reservoirs. A special role in this is assigned to the “Kislovodsk” National Park – the only federal specially protected natural territory of high rank of the Caucasian Mineral Vody and the Stavropol territory.