Description
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
Males reach a snout-vent length of up to 28 mm. The largest female found was 34 mm. The fingers have expanded and truncated tips (Channing and Howell 2006), which might be an adaptation to climbing on plants. Coloration is sexually dimorphic and is also highly variable between individuals (Channing and Howell 2006). The upper body surface in males is brown to red and can be patterned; a faint lighter stripe can extend from the orbit along the parotid glands (Channing and Howell 2006) but is not always consistently present (Starnberger, pers. comm.). In contrast, the color of the upper surface in females is a rusty red with the center of the back being yellowish; females may also have a single black bar on each tibia and another black bar on each foot (Channing and Howell 2006). Barbour and Loveridge (1928) also reported a clear sexual dimorphism in ventral patterning, stating that the sides and ventral surface of the male are uniformly white or grey, whereas the female’s underside is translucent. In males, the underside of the body appears brighter than the dorsal skin (Starnberger et al. 2011).N. tornieri was described by Roux (1906). The specific epithet honors the German herpetologist Gustav Tornier.Some records from the Uluguru Mountains that are currently referred to N. tornieri may actually represent an undescribed species. In addition, some records from the West Usambara Mountains are thought to represent a second undescribed species (Loader et al. 2004).
- Loader, S., Poynton, J., and Howell, K. 2004. Nectophrynoides tornieri. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 06 March 2011.
- Roux, J. (1906). ''Synopsis of the toads of the genus Nectophryne B. & P., with special remarks on some known species and descriptions of a new species from German East Africa.'' Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1906, 58-65.
- Starnberger, I., Kamminga, P., Fosah, V. C., and Nuttman, C. (2011). ''The “push-up” as a calling posture in Nectophrynoides tornieri (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Amani Nature Reserve, Tanzania.'' Herpetologica (in press)
Distribution and Habitat
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
Endemic to Tanzania. This species is known from the Mahenge, Nguru, Udzungwa, Ukaguru, Uluguru, and Usambara Mountains, as well as Mount Rungwe, but may occur throughout the Eastern Arc chain in eastern and southern Tanzania (Loader et al. 2004). It has been found at elevations ranging from 300 m asl (in the Kimboza Forest, Uluguru foothills) to 1,800 m asl, in lowland and montane forest (Loader et al. 2004) as well as in agricultural land (e.g., oil palm plantations) adjacent to forest. Individuals can be found on low parts of forest-floor vegetation, as well as in stalks of bamboo and under leaf litter (Loader et al. 2004; Channing and Howell 2006).
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
Calls: Males call in spring, at the start of the rainy season, and the call can be described as a “pink-pink” (Channing and Howell 2006) consisting of 1-4 notes. The males observed by Starnberger et al. (2011) were calling in July and August and produced a single-note call progressing to a rapid, repetitive double note (mean note duration 0.04 - 0.01 s) separated by inter-note intervals (mean duration 0.31 - 0.5 s). In rare cases, males emitted triple or even quadruple-note calls. The peak energy of the notes was between 3033.5 to 3205.8 Hz, +/- 22.2 Hz, with additional harmonic frequency bands at approximately 6100, 9400 and 12400 Hz (Starnberger et al. 2011).Males were found calling at night sitting elevated on vegetation (Clidemia hirta and Marattia fraxinea) along earthen trailside banks, at a mean height of 79 cm (range 40-170 cm) from the ground and never closer than 0.5 m to another male. While calling, males adopt a peculiar posture lifting themselves off the substrate by stretching their fore- and hindlegs. This posture was described as the “push-up” and might serve a visual display to deter other males, to enhance sound transmission or to improve the caller’s detectability. When disturbed, males cease calling and flatten themselves against the plant surface (Starnberger et al. 2011). Reproductive behavior: Nectophrynoides tornieri has internal fertilization; it is viviparous with direct development. Females have been found carrying up to 35 young in the oviduct (Channing and Howell 2006).Defensive behavior: In addition to flattening against the vegetation when disturbed, N. tornieri may play dead, remaining on its back with the limbs retracted for a minute or so (Channing and Howell 2006).This species consumes ants (Channing and Howell 2006).
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
This species is protected under CITES Appendix I. It is adaptable and can tolerate some habitat disturbance. It is of the most abundant amphibians in the Eastern Arcs. However, lower elevation habitat in particular is likely being lost to expanding agriculture, logging, and increasing human settlement. In the Eastern Usambaras, illegal gold mining presents a serious threat. It is known to occur in two protected areas: the Udzungwa National Park and the Amani Nature Reserve (Loader et al. 2004).
Nectophrynoides tornieri
provided by wikipedia EN
Nectophrynoides tornieri, Tornier's forest toad or kijula, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. This species was first described by Jean Roux in 1906[3] and was named in honour of the German zoologist Gustav Tornier. [4]
Description
Tornier's forest toad is sexually dimorphic and the colouring also varies considerably between individuals. The males are smaller at 28 mm (1.1 in), with the dorsal surface brownish-red and the ventral surface grey or white. The females measure 34 mm (1.3 in) in length with the dorsal surface rust coloured with a central yellow region and a ventral surface that appears translucent. Females may also have two black bands across the lower legs and feet. The fingers on both sexes have expanded, flattened blunt pads.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Tornier's forest toad is endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains in southern and eastern Tanzania. It is found in the forests and in agricultural areas adjoining forests at altitudes between 300 and 1,800 metres (980 and 5,910 ft) above sea level. It is a terrestrial species and clambers about in low vegetation, forages on the ground and hides under leaf litter.[5]
Diet
Tornier's forest toad eats small invertebrates such as ants.
Mating and reproduction
Breeding takes place in the rainy season. Males advertise themselves to attract females by calling at night from low vegetation. While doing this they adopt a characteristic pose with all four limbs extended. Unlike most frogs, this species is viviparous.[5] Internal fertilisation takes place and the eggs, which are 3-4 mm in diameter,[6] develop directly into juvenile frogs in the oviduct of the female. Up to thirty-five offspring have been found developing in one female.[5]
Status
Tornier's forest toad is listed as being of "Least Concern" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Although it occupies a total range that is smaller than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) it is common in much of this area and is not thought to be in significant decline. It is an adaptable species and when logging has affected its traditional habitat, has moved into agricultural areas and banana plantations. It is also threatened by illegal gold mining. [1]
References
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Nectophrynoides tornieri: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Nectophrynoides tornieri, Tornier's forest toad or kijula, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. This species was first described by Jean Roux in 1906 and was named in honour of the German zoologist Gustav Tornier.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
