Emei moustache toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emei moustache toad |
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| Leptobrachium boringii male | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leptobrachium
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| Species: |
boringii
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| Synonyms | |
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Vibrissaphora boringii Liu, 1945 |
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The Leptobrachium boringii, often called the Emei moustache toad or Taosze spiny toad, is a special type of amphibian. It belongs to the Megophryidae family, which includes many types of frogs and toads. This unique toad lives only in China. You can find it in the provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan.
The names "Emei" and "Taosze" come from Mount Emei in Sichuan. This is the place where scientists first found this toad. The Emei moustache toad lives in cool forests, open grassland, and even in farm fields. It also likes rural gardens, especially those near rivers. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat loss. This means the toad is in danger.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Male Emei moustache toads have a very cool feature. During their breeding season, special pointy growths appear on their upper lip. These growths are made of a tough material called keratin, just like your fingernails. They look a lot like a "moustache" or tiny "spines," which is how the toad got its name!
These male toads are also usually bigger than the females. On average, a male is about 75 millimeters (about 3 inches) long from its snout to its bottom. Females are a bit smaller, usually around 67 millimeters (about 2.6 inches). This is interesting because, in many other frog species, the females are the larger ones.
Scientists believe these unique features, like the "moustache" and the males being bigger, are important for finding a mate. The males might use their size and spikes to fight other males for the best places to breed. It's also possible that female toads prefer to mate with the bigger males.
