Murud dwarf toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murud dwarf toad |
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| Pelophryne murudensis is only known from Mount Murud in Malaysian Borneo |
The Pelophryne murudensis, also known as the Murud dwarf toad, is a special kind of toad. It belongs to the Bufonidae family, which includes many types of toads. This tiny toad is found only in one place: Mount Murud in Sarawak, Borneo. When an animal or plant lives in just one specific area, it is called endemic.
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What Does the Murud Dwarf Toad Look Like?
The Murud dwarf toad is quite large for its group of toads. Adult males are about 22–26 mm (0.9–1.0 in) long. That's roughly the size of a small paperclip! We don't know how big the females are yet.
Body Features
- Its head is wider than it is long.
- The snout, which is its nose area, slopes downwards from the side.
- It has a clear tympanum, which is like an eardrum.
- This toad does not have the special skin folds or glands that some other toads have near their ears.
- Its fingers are short and strong, with lots of webbing between them.
- The toes are long and also have a lot of webbing.
Color and Calls
The back of the Murud dwarf toad is mostly brown. It has a dark stripe that goes from its nose, past its eye, and along its sides. This stripe makes its lighter brown back stand out. The sides of its body are cream or greyish-cream.
Male toads have a special throat pouch called a subgular vocal sac. They use this sac to make a continuous trilling sound. This sound is their way of calling to attract females.
Where Does the Murud Dwarf Toad Live?
Scientists first found these toads in a mountain forest. This forest was high up, about 2,120 m (6,960 ft) above sea level. The male toads were heard calling from leaves up to three meters (about 10 feet) above the ground. They were found along paths in the forest.
Mysterious Home for Young Toads
We don't yet know where the baby toads (larvae) live. Scientists think they might live inside the pitcher plants called Nepenthes. These plants have cup-shaped leaves that can hold water.
Protecting Their Home
The area where these toads live is inside the Pulong Tau National Park. Even though it's a protected park, the toad's home is still at risk. Its habitat is slowly being lost. Also, Climate change is a big worry for the future of this species.
Since the Murud dwarf toad lives only on Mount Murud, its home is very small. Scientists believe its entire living area might be less than 5 square kilometers (about 2 square miles). This small range makes it very important to protect this unique toad.
