Toads in Qatar: The species present and their probable original source

Abstract

Toads are likely to have been introduced to Qatar, but little information is available on toad populations in the country, including the species present and their probable origin. Therefore, we collected tissue samples for analysis from 32 toads found in six different locations in northern and central Qatar. Phylogenetic analysis based on16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA identified two haplotypes in Qatar, which are identical to those of Sclerophrys regularis from Ismalia and from Rasheed (Rosetta) in Egypt. One haplotype is very common in central Qatar, while the other is more common in the north. It is possible that toads have been introduced from Egypt to Qatar on multiple occasions, although we cannot reject the possibility of a single introduction event containing toads of both haplotypes with subsequent dispersal across the country.