Bamboutos smalltongue toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bamboutos smalltongue toad |
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Bufo bambutensis Amiet, 1972 |
Werneria bambutensis is a special kind of toad that lives only in one part of the world. It belongs to the Bufonidae family, which includes many types of toads. This toad is found only in western Cameroon, a country in Africa. It lives high up in the mountains, including places like Mount Manengouba, Mount Oku, and the Bamboutos Mountains. Because of where it lives, people sometimes call it the Bamboutos smalltongue toad or the Bambouto torrent toad.
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What Does It Look Like?
These toads are not very big. Adult males can grow to about 33 millimeters (about 1.3 inches) long. Females are a bit larger, reaching up to 38 millimeters (about 1.5 inches). This measurement is taken from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom).
Body Features
The Werneria bambutensis has a compact body and short, thick legs. Its snout, or nose area, is short and rounded. Unlike many other animals, you can't see an eardrum (called a tympanum) on this toad. Its toes are completely webbed, which means they have skin between them, like a duck's foot. This helps the toad swim well in fast-moving water.
Color and Markings
The top part of its body (called the dorsum) and its sides (flanks) can be dark greenish-olive or a clear bronze color. Sometimes, they even have a shiny gold look or small black spots. Most other toads in the Werneria group have a clear line along their sides, but on this toad, this line is only faintly visible on the sides of its head. The underside of its body is usually a plain grey or white, sometimes with grey spots.
Where It Lives and Why It Needs Help
The Werneria bambutensis toad prefers to live in fast-flowing streams. You can find it in high places, usually between 1,750 and 2,600 meters (about 5,740 to 8,530 feet) above sea level. It mostly lives within patches of mountain forest. It's rare to find them lower than 2,100 meters (about 6,900 feet).
Life in the Mountains
When it's not breeding season, these toads might move away from the streams. They can be found in forest areas, open bamboo patches, or mountain grasslands. During the dry season, adult toads often hide under stones in the streams to stay safe and moist.
Conservation Concerns
This toad is quite rare, and its numbers seem to be going down in many places where it used to live. One big reason for this decline might be a disease called chytridiomycosis. This is a serious fungal disease that affects amphibians like frogs and toads around the world.
Another major threat to the Werneria bambutensis is habitat loss. This means the places where they live are being destroyed, mainly due to deforestation (when forests are cut down). Sadly, this toad is not known to live in any protected areas, though it might be present in the Bafut-Ngemba Forest Reserve. Protecting its habitat is very important for its survival.
