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
- ^ a b c d e Blair Hedges; Sixto Inchaustegui; Marcelino Hernandez; Robert Powell (2004). "Peltophryne fracta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004. IUCN: e.T54641A11180042.
- ^ a b Schwartz, A. (1972). "The native toads (Anura, Bufonidae) of Hispaniola". Journal of Herpetology. 6: 217–231. doi:10.2307/1562774. JSTOR 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. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Landestoy T.; Miguel A.; Robert Ortíz (2015). "Rediscovery of the eastern crested toad (Peltophryne fracta), with comments on conservation, vocalization, and mating" (PDF). IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians: Conservation and Natural History. 22 (2): 50–55.