Ansonia guibei facts for kids
Ansonia guibei is a small kind of toad that belongs to the Bufonidae family. It is only found in a specific part of northwestern Sabah, which is in Malaysian Borneo. This toad is sometimes called the Mesilau toad or Mesilau stream toad. Its scientific name, guibei, was chosen to honor Jean Marius René Guibé, a French scientist who studied animals, especially amphibians and reptiles.
Quick facts for kids Ansonia guibei |
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| Ansonia guibei is only known with certainty from near Mesilau in the Kinabalu National Park in Malaysian Borneo |
What Does It Look Like?
Male Ansonia guibei toads grow to be about 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) long. Females are a bit larger, reaching about 34 millimeters (1.3 inches). They have a thin body shape. Their head is as wide as it is long.
You can clearly see their eardrum, called the tympanum. The ridge between their eyes and snout, known as the canthus rostralis, is sharp. Their fingers are thin with wide tips, but they don't have special pads. Their toes have a lot of webbing between them.
The skin on their back has many small bumps or warts. The skin on their sides and belly feels grainy. Toads preserved in alcohol look dark brownish-black on top. They have lighter spots that form a faint dark pattern. Their belly is whitish, with a brownish tint on the throat and spots on the chest.
The tadpoles of Ansonia guibei are dark brown to black on their upper side.
Where Do They Live and Are They Safe?
Adult Ansonia guibei toads live in forests found on mountains. These are called montane and submontane forests. They live at heights between 1,300 and 2,000 meters (4,300 to 6,600 feet) above sea level.
They lay their eggs and breed in small, clear streams that have rocky bottoms. The tadpoles live in fast-flowing parts of these streams. They hold onto rocks and eat small plants that grow on them, called lithophytes.
This toad species used to be very common near Mesilau in the Kinabalu National Park. However, in 2015, the population there was greatly reduced. This happened because of earthquakes and the landslides that followed.
Scientists are not sure if this toad still lives near Mesilau or in other places. If they are still around, their homes could be at risk. New buildings for tourists might threaten their natural habitat.
