Asmara toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asmara toad |
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Bufo asmarae Tandy, Bogart, Largen, and Feener, 1982 |
The Sclerophrys asmarae, also known as the Asmara toad (ኣስመራ ጋዝዕ), is a type of toad. It belongs to the family Bufonidae, which includes many different toad species. This toad is named after Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea. This is because the first Asmara toad found and studied came from that area.
You can find these toads in the Ethiopian Highlands. This area is split by the Rift Valley. Asmara toads live on both sides of this valley. The group living on the western side also extends north into Eritrea. They usually live in mountain grasslands. Sometimes, they are also found in dry savanna areas at lower elevations. The Asmara toad is quite common and can adjust to changes in its home. Even though its habitat can be damaged by human activities, this doesn't seem to be a big problem for the species as a whole.
About the Asmara Toad
How Was It Discovered?
Scientists first described the Asmara toad in 1982. This happened in Ethiopia. The scientists who named it were Tandy, Bogart, Largen, and Feener. They first called it Bufo asmarae.
The Asmara toad is unique because it has a different number of chromosomes compared to many other toads. It has 40 chromosomes, which is more than the usual 20 found in similar species. It seems to be closely related to two other toad species: Sclerophrys kerinyagae and the African common toad (Sclerophrys regularis). These two related species have the typical number of chromosomes.
The areas where these three toad species live sometimes overlap. Because the Asmara toad has a different number of chromosomes, scientists believe it likely developed from one of these other two species. Even though they live near each other, they have slight differences in their calls and how they reproduce. This helps keep them as separate species. Also, they prefer different altitudes, which helps prevent them from mixing too much.
Is the Asmara Toad in Danger?
The Asmara toad faces some threats, mainly from people building homes and farms. However, this toad is very good at adapting. It can live even when its grassland home is changed by grazing animals. Since habitat destruction happens slowly, and the Asmara toad is common in many places, experts are not very worried about it.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at the Asmara toad's situation. They have decided its conservation status is "least concern". This means it is not currently considered to be at risk of disappearing.
