Biology:Eastern crested toad
| Eastern crested toad | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Peltophryne |
| Species: | P. fracta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Peltophryne fracta (Schwartz, 1972)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Bufo guntheri fractus Schwartz, 1972[2] | |
The eastern crested toad (Peltophryne fracta) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the eastern Dominican Republic and only known from near Higüey in the La Altagracia Province, at elevations below 500 m (1,600 ft) asl.[1][3]
Description
Males grow to 72.5 mm (2.85 in)[4] and females 80 mm (3.1 in) in snout–vent length. Dorsum has yellowish tan ground color and is heavily overlaid with a very dark brown to black reticulated pattern.[2] They are morphologically similar to the related southern crested toad (Peltophryne guentheri) but are smaller in size, darker in dorsal coloration, and have a greater interorbital distance.[4]
The male advertisement call involves a distinctive diphthong, an “oo-aaaahhh”, contrasting with the monosyllabic call of Peltophryne guentheri.[4]
Habitat and conservation
Peltophryne fracta are difficult to find outside the breeding season.[1][4] The species was apparently observed only once after its description in 1972, but it was rediscovered in 2014, including a male chorus and non-chorusing males and females from several locations.[4] Breeding takes place in temporary pools,[1] including a rainwater-filled roadside ditch.[4] Breeding is triggered by heavy rains, and the breeding season corresponds to the Atlantic hurricane season.[4]
All observations of these animals are from degraded habitats[1][4] where the populations are facing further habitat degradation caused by urban development. A further threat is competition with and predation from introduced cane toads (Rhinella marina) and American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus). Male Peltophryne fracta has also been observed to try to mate with a male Rhinella marina.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Blair Hedges; Sixto Inchaustegui; Marcelino Hernandez; Robert Powell (2004). "Peltophryne fracta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2004: e.T54641A11180042. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54641A11180042.en.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Schwartz, A. (1972). "The native toads (Anura, Bufonidae) of Hispaniola". Journal of Herpetology 6: 217–231. doi:10.2307/1562774.
- ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Peltophryne fracta (Schwartz, 1972)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Bufonidae/Peltophryne/Peltophryne-fracta. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Landestoy T.; Miguel A.; Robert Ortíz (2015). "Rediscovery of the eastern crested toad (Peltophryne fracta), with comments on conservation, vocalization, and mating". IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians: Conservation and Natural History 22 (2): 50–55. http://www.ircf.org/journal/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/RA-22.2_50-55_Landestoy-Ort%C3%ADz_print.pdf.
Wikidata ☰ Q28031038 entry
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