Pelophryne, commonly known as flathead toads or dwarf toads, is a genus of true toads, family Bufonidae.[1][2] The genus occurs in the Philippines, Borneo, Malaya including Singapore, and Hainan (China). Molecular data suggest that Pelophryne is the sister taxon of Ansonia.[1]
Pelophryne are small, semi-arboreal toads. They can easily be recognized by the peculiar, fleshy web of their fingers and toes. The genus can be divided into two groups: one with rounded but not expanded finger tips, and the other with the tips of the fingers expanded into truncate discs. This morphological division is supported by molecular data.[3]
Where two Pelophryne species coexist, one species is small (<20 mm (0.8 in)) and the other one is larger, about 25–28 mm (1.0–1.1 in) in snout–vent length. This is suggestive of resource partitioning.[3]
The tadpoles are specialized for rapid development in very small rain water pools. The eggs are relatively large, and the tadpoles appear to subsist the larval period on yolk. The tadpoles have a degenerate oral disk and lack a spiracle.[4][5]
The following species are recognized in the genus Pelophryne:[1]
Binomial name and author Common name Pelophryne albotaeniata Barbour, 1938 White-striped flathead toad Pelophryne api Dring, 1984 Pelophryne brevipes (Peters, 1867) Zamboanga flathead toad Pelophryne guentheri (Boulenger, 1882) Gunther's flathead toad Pelophryne ingeri Matsui, 2019 Pelophryne lighti (Taylor, 1920) Mindanao flathead toad Pelophryne linanitensis Das, 2008[6] Pelophryne misera (Mocquard, 1890) Black flathead toad Pelophryne murudensis Das, 2008[6] Pelophryne penrissenensis Matsui, Nishikawa, Eto, and Hossman, 2017[3] Pelophryne rhopophilius Inger and Stuebing, 1996 Pelophryne saravacensis Inger and Stuebing, 2009 Pelophryne signata (Boulenger, 1895) Saint Andrew's cross toadletIn addition, the AmphibiaWeb recognizes Pelophryne macrotis as distinct from Pelophryne guentheri.[2]
Pelophryne, commonly known as flathead toads or dwarf toads, is a genus of true toads, family Bufonidae. The genus occurs in the Philippines, Borneo, Malaya including Singapore, and Hainan (China). Molecular data suggest that Pelophryne is the sister taxon of Ansonia.
