Dominican Caribbean toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dominican Caribbean toad |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Peltophryne |
| Species: |
P. fluviatica
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| Binomial name | |
| Peltophryne fluviatica (Schwartz, 1972)
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| Synonyms | |
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Bufo fluviaticus Schwartz, 1972 |
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Peltophryne fluviatica, also known as the Dominican Caribbean toad or Hispaniolan crestless toad, is a very special kind of toad. It lives only in the Cibao Valley in the northwestern Dominican Republic. This toad has only ever been seen in two places, making it quite rare.
What Does the Dominican Caribbean Toad Look Like?
Male toads are about 33 to 44 millimeters long. That's about 1.3 to 1.7 inches, or roughly the size of a small paperclip! We don't know how big the females are.
These toads have a pointed snout. Their eardrum, called a tympanum, is easy to see. Their back (called the dorsum) has many small bumps, like warts. The warts near their shoulders are bigger.
Their skin is green, from bright green to olive. They often have bright yellow or orange spots. Sometimes, there's a light tan or yellow line down the middle of their back.
Where Does the Dominican Caribbean Toad Live?
This toad lives in dry areas, which scientists call xeric habitats. It likes places with forests that grow along rivers or streams. These forests are called broadleaf gallery forests. The toads are usually found close to water.
Male toads like to call out from shallow, moving water. Female toads lay their eggs in still water.
Why Is This Toad So Special?
The Dominican Caribbean toad is listed as a Critically Endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. It might even be extinct, which means there are no more left in the wild.
The main reason this toad is in danger is because its home is shrinking. People are changing the land where it lives. This toad has not been seen since it was first described in 1972. It is now on a special list called "Lost Frogs." Scientists are not sure if any of these toads are still alive today.
 | Jewel Prestage |
 | Ella Baker |
 | Fannie Lou Hamer |
