Nectophrynoides viviparus

Nectophrynoides viviparus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. Common names robust forest toad and Morogoro tree toad have been coined for it.[1][2]

Nectophrynoides viviparus

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Nectophrynoides
Species:
N. viviparus
Binomial name
Nectophrynoides viviparus
(Tornier, 1905)
Synonyms[2]

Pseudophryne vivipara Tornier, 1905
Nectophryne werthi Nieden, 1911 "1910"

Description

Nectophrynoides viviparus is a robust toad which reaches an adult length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in). The skin is smooth and has many small mucous glands. The paratoid glands are prominent just behind the eyes and nearby are circular tympani (eardrums). It also has large glands on its limbs which usually contrast in colour with the rest of the skin. The digits on the hands and feet are partially webbed. Some individuals are black with white markings, others are grey, green or dull red.[3] In 2011, a new species of toad, Callulina meteora, was described from the mountains of Tanzania and has similarly large, contrastingly coloured glands on its limbs.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This species is known from the Uluguru Mountains and Udzungwa Mountains in eastern and southern Tanzania. It occurs in wooded areas, among bamboos and in grassland at the edges of forests at an altitude of between 1,350 and 2,800 metres (4,430 and 9,190 ft) above sea level.[1]

Biology

Nectophrynoides viviparus is a terrestrial species and is ovoviviparous, which implies that it does not require a body of water in which to reproduce. Fertilisation is internal and the eggs develop through the larval stage inside the mother's oviduct, eventually emerging as fully formed juvenile toads.[1]

Status

It is found as several separate populations in an area of about 55,000 square kilometres (21,000 sq mi). It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural activity, wood collection, and human habitations, especially at lower altitudes. Although relatively common, populations in general appear to be declining.[1]

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References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Nectophrynoides viviparus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T54846A16950142. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T54846A16950142.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Nectophrynoides viviparus (Tornier, 1905)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  3. Pupin, Fabio; Tonelli, Elena. "Nectophrynoides viviparus , (Tornier, 1905)". Tanzaniaherps.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  4. Menegon, Michele; Gower, David J; Loader, Simon P (2011). "A remarkable new species of Callulina (Amphibia: Anura: Brevicipitidae) with massive, boldly coloured limb glands". Zootaxa. 3095: 15–26.
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