Ansonia tiomanica

Ansonia tiomanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Ansonia
Species: A. tiomanica
Binomial name
Ansonia tiomanica
Hendrickson, 1966

Ansonia tiomanica (common names: Pulau Tioman slender toad, Pulo Tioman stream toad) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Tioman Island (=Pulau Tioman), off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.[1][2][3]

Tioman Island off the east coast of West Malaysia
Tioman Island, the only place where Ansonia tiomanica occurs.

Description

Males measure 27–31 mm (1.1–1.2 in) and females 32–37 mm (1.3–1.5 in) in snout–vent length. The tympanum is distinct. The dorsum has rough skin and is black in colour, covered with small, yellow spots; juveniles may have orange spots. The chest and belly are black. The fingers and toes are long and thin and have bulbous tips.[3]

The colouration might be aposematic as the skin contains toxins that can kill other frogs.[3]

Habitat and conservation

The species' natural habitats are primary montane forests. At lower elevations (around 200 m), it is generally associated with boulder habitats along fast-flowing streams. At higher elevations (>800 m), the species is restricted to cave-like microhabitats formed by large granite boulders. These frogs are active at night and most often found perched on vertical surfaces of rocks, rarely on leaves.[3]

It can in future be threatened by habitat loss caused by clearance for tourism infrastructure, and is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it is known from only one location.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 van Dijk, P.P., Sukumaran, J., Yaakob, N. & Tzi Ming, L. (2004). "Ansonia tiomanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004: e.T54484A11139960. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Ansonia tiomanica Hendrickson, 1966". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ansonia tiomanica". Amphibians and Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.