Sambas stream toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sambas stream toad |
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The Ansonia latidisca, also known as the Sambas stream toad or Bornean rainbow toad, is a small true toad. It was "lost" for a long time, not seen since 1924, until it was found again in 2011! This special toad lives only on the island of Borneo, which is part of Indonesia and Malaysia. It makes its home in tropical moist lowland forests and near rivers. Sadly, its home is shrinking, which puts the toad in danger.
What Does the Rainbow Toad Look Like?
The few Bornean rainbow toads that scientists have studied are small. They are about 30 to 50 mm (1.2 to 2.0 in) long. These toads are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. They have long, thin legs and skin that looks like it's been splashed with bright colors. Imagine a mix of green, purple, and red!
The colorful spots on their back are not flat. They are bumpy, like tiny pebbles or warts. An expert named Robin Moore explained that bumpy skin like this often means the toad has special glands. These glands can produce a mild poison. So, it's best not to touch them or put them near your mouth!
Another expert, herpetologist Indraneil Das, led the team that found the toad again. He thought its colors looked like moss. This might help the toad hide among the mossy tree bark where it lives. It's a perfect way to stay safe from predators!
Finding the Lost Rainbow Toad
The Bornean rainbow toad was on a special list in 2010. Conservation International called it one of the "world's top 10 most wanted frogs." This was because no one had seen it since 1924! For many years, the only pictures of this toad were old drawings. These drawings were made from toads collected almost a century ago.
In July 2011, a team of scientists from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak went looking for it. Dr. Indraneil Das led the team. They spent many nights searching in the Gunung Penrissen mountains in Western Sarawak. Finally, they found three toads high up in the branches of a tree! They were able to take photos of them.
The team looked for the toad at night along streams. They thought it might climb trees, based on what they knew about similar toads. Dr. Das said that searching for amphibians in rainforests can be tough. They faced heavy rain, leeches, and even people who might try to illegally collect animals.
The scientists were careful not to share the exact location of the toads. They worried about poachers. Poachers are people who illegally take animals from their natural homes. They might try to sell these rare toads as pets.
