Gunung Mulu stream toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gunung Mulu stream toad |
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The Gunung Mulu stream toad (scientific name: Ansonia torrentis) is a special kind of toad. It's also called the torrent slender toad. This small toad belongs to the Bufonidae family, which includes many toads. You can only find this toad in one place: Mount Mulu in Sarawak, Borneo, which is part of Malaysia. The name torrentis comes from where it lives – near fast-flowing streams on steep mountainsides.
What Does the Gunung Mulu Stream Toad Look Like?
Adult male toads are quite small. They are about 31 to 33 millimeters long. That's just over an inch! This measurement is from their nose to their bottom, called their snout–vent length.
These toads look very slender, or thin. Their snout, which is their nose area, looks flat when you see it from above. But from the side, it sticks out a bit. They have a clear eardrum, called a tympanum.
Their fingers are thin and have small, round tips. Their toe tips are a bit swollen. They do not have any webbing between their toes. Their back, or dorsum, is covered with many small, round bumps.
The toad's back is mostly blackish in color. It might have some faint brown marks. The sides of its body have yellowish to light brown patterns, like marble. Its legs also have thin stripes across them.
Where Does It Live and Is It Safe?
The Ansonia torrentis lives next to small, clear mountain streams. These streams flow down steep hillsides. They are found at about 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet) above sea level.
Male toads often call out from low plants on rock faces. These rocks are next to parts of the stream that have fast water chutes and small rock pools. It is believed that the tadpoles, or baby toads, grow up in these same stream areas.
This toad is only found within the Gunung Mulu National Park. Scientists think there are many of these toads there. Even though they live in a small area, their home is well-protected. This means they are not in danger right now.
