Variation of Colors in Amphibians: Adaptive Strategies in Natural Habitats from Mediterranean Climate to a Desert Environment in Israel

Amphibians in Israel display remarkable adaptive strategies in response to the country’s diverse climatic zones, ranging from Mediterranean habitats in the north to desert environments in the south. This study reviews variation in coloration, morphology, and ecological traits across representative species, highlighting their significance for camouflage, aposematism, and environmental plasticity. Species such as Hyla savignyi exhibit dynamic color variation linked to substrate and climatic conditions, while Bufotes viridis (syn. Pseudepidalea viridis) demonstrates polymorphic dorsal patterns associated with habitat-specific pressures. The Eastern spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) shows subtle but ecologically significant variations in dorsal mosaic patterns that provide camouflage at the southern edge of its range. The Levant water frog (Pelophylax bedriagae) exhibits striking morphs ranging from cryptic brown to vivid green-yellow forms, reflecting both habitat conditions and potential reproductive signaling. The rediscovered Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer), unique to the Hula Valley, combines cryptic dorsal coloration with stable, individual-specific ventral spotting used in conservation monitoring. Among Caudata, the fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) shows high variability in spot patterns and mucus metabolite profiles shaped by environmental stressors, while the banded newt (Ommatotriton vittatus) demonstrates dramatic seasonal sexual dimorphism between terrestrial and aquatic phases. Together, these examples emphasize the role of coloration strategies, morphological plasticity, and ecological adaptation in supporting amphibian survival across heterogeneous landscapes. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms is critical for conservation, particularly in the face of habitat fragmentation and climate change in the Levant.