Leptobrachium boringii

Leptobrachium boringii, commonly known as the Emei moustache toad or Taosze spiny toad, is a species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to China where it is found in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces. "Emei" or "Taosze" in its common names refer to its type locality, Taosze on Mount Emei, Sichuan.[2] Its natural habitats are temperate forests, grassland, arable land, and rural gardens near rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Leptobrachium boringii male at the height of the breeding season. Nuptial spines, the "moustache", are clearly visible.[3]

Leptobrachium boringii
Leptobrachium boringii male

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Megophryidae
Genus: Leptobrachium
Species:
L. boringii
Binomial name
Leptobrachium boringii
(Liu, 1945)
Synonyms

Vibrissaphora boringii Liu, 1945

Reproductive behaviour and strategies

Leptobrachium boringii exhibits sexual selection in a striking way. Male Leptobrachium boringii exhibit conspicuous keratinized nuptial spines that grow on their upper lip during the breeding season—these are the "moustache" and "spines" referred to in its common names. Moreover, male Leptobrachium boringii are larger, on average 75 mm (3.0 in) in snout-vent length, than females, which are on average 67 mm (2.6 in) in SVL (female-biased sexual size dimorphism is more common in frogs[4]). These unusual features seem to relate to male–male combat for best breeding territories and/or female preference for larger males. However, also multiple paternity could be observed, suggesting that some males use the sneaker strategy to fertilize eggs, instead of defending territories.[3]

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References
  1. Fei Liang; Wu Guanfu (2004). "Leptobrachium boringii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T57625A11665713. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57625A11665713.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Leptobrachium boringii (Liu, 1945)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  3. Hudson, C. M.; Fu, J. (2013). "Male-biased sexual size dimorphism, resource defense polygyny, and multiple paternity in the Emei moustache toad (Leptobrachium boringii)". PLoS ONE. 8 (6): e67502. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067502. PMC 3696078. PMID 23840725.
  4. Shine, R. (1979). "Sexual selection and sexual dimorphism in the Amphibia". Copeia. 1979 (2): 297–306. doi:10.2307/1443418. JSTOR 1443418.
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