Duttaphrynus himalayanus
The Himalayan toad (Duttaphrynus himalayanus) is a species of toad that is widely distributed throughout the Himalayan mountains. The Yunnanese populations are sometimes considered a separate species, Duttaphrynus cyphosus.[1][2]
Himalayan toad | |
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Pair in amplexus (Munsiari, Uttaranchal, India) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Bufonidae |
Genus: | Duttaphrynus |
Species: | D. himalayanus |
Binomial name | |
Duttaphrynus himalayanus (Günther, 1864) | |
Synonyms | |
Bufo melanostictus var. himalayanus Günther, 1864 |
Description
Tne crown is deeply concave, with low, blunt supraorbital ridges. The snout is short and blunt, the interorbital space is broader than the upper eyelid, and the tympanum is very small and rather indistinct. The first finger does not extend beyond the second, the toes are half or two-thirds webbed, with single subarticular tubercles, two moderate metatarsal tubercles, and no tarsal fold. The tarsometatarsal articulation reaches the anterior border of the eye or the tip of the snout. Upper parts have irregular, distinctly porous warts, the parotoids are very prominent, large, and elongated, at least as long as the head. They are uniform brown in color. Males do not have vocal sacs.[3]
From snout to vent, they measure 130 mm (5 in).
Distribution and habitat
This species is found from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, through northern India and adjacent Bangladesh and Nepal to Tibet and Yunnan in China. It occurs at the elevations of 2,000–3,500 m (6,600–11,500 ft) above sea level. Presumably, it also occurs in Bhutan and Burma.[2] This high-altitude species can also occur in the evergreen forests of the foothills. It inhabits mountain forests and shrubland near streams, and also is found in the vicinity of seepages and fields. It is largely a terrestrial toad. Breeding takes place in hill streams, small pools, and puddles.[1]
References
- Muhammad Sharif Khan; Sushil Dutta; Sabitry Bordoloi; Sohrab Uddin Sarker; Fei Liang; Annemarie Ohler (2004). "Duttaphrynus himalayanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T54662A11170049. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54662A11170049.en.
- Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Duttaphrynus himalayanus (Günther, 1864)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- Boulenger, G. A. (1890) Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia