Recent molecular and morphological studies have shown that Bufo bufo and B. spinosus are genetically distinct and morphologically diagnosable across a relatively narrow contact zone in northern France and should be regarded as different species. However, the species identity of the neighbouring populations of Bufo on the British Channel Island of Jersey has not been investigated. We here present new molecular (a mtDNA RFLP assay plus sequences of the nuclear RAG1 gene) and morphological evidence that these populations are to be assigned to B. spinosus, and can thus be considered an addition to the native British herpetofauna. Jersey toad populations are declining and have a distinct breeding ecology compared to other populations in mainland Britain. We discuss the results in the light of amphibian conservation efforts in Jersey.Fieldwork and sampling in Jersey was conducted under licence from the States of Jersey Environment Department and with support from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Other funds were provided by grants CGL2008-04271-C02-01/BOS and CGL2011-28300 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain, and FEDER) and PPII10-0097- 4200 (Junta de Comunidades de Castilla la Mancha and FEDER) to IMS, who is currently funded by Project “Biodiversity, Ecology and Global Change”, co-financed by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme 2007/2013 (ON.2–O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference
Framework (NSRF), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Peer Reviewe
