Poynton's forest toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Poynton's forest toad |
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| Nectophrynoides poyntoni is only known from the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania |
The Poynton's forest toad (scientific name: Nectophrynoides poyntoni) is a special kind of toad. It belongs to the Bufonidae family, which includes many types of toads. This small toad lives only in one place: the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania, Africa. It was first found in the Mkalazi Valley.
Scientists only found this toad once, in 2003. Even after many searches, no one has seen it since. Because of this, many people worry that the Poynton's forest toad has almost disappeared. It might even be extinct.
About the Name
The scientific name poyntoni was chosen to honor a South African scientist named John Charles Poynton. He studied amphibians and helped us learn a lot about the toads and frogs in Tanzania.
What Does It Look Like?
Poynton's forest toads are quite small. Adult males are about 19 to 24 millimeters (0.7 to 0.9 inches) long. Females are about 20 to 24 millimeters (0.8 to 0.9 inches) long. Their snouts, or noses, are short. They have eyes that stick out.
These toads have special glands called parotoid glands. These glands are in two parts. The front part is made of small bumps. The back part is larger and shaped like a bean. Their fingers do not have webbing. Their toes have a little bit of webbing between the fourth and fifth toes.
The toad's skin can be brown or light brown. It often has two black stripes that run from its nose to its shoulders. Some toads also have dark spots on their backs. Their undersides are gray.
Toad Calls
Male Poynton's forest toads make a special call to attract females. Their call sounds like a series of short pulses. Each call lasts about one second. There is a pause of about 2.5 to 3.5 seconds between calls. The main sound of their call is around 2.9 kHz.
Habitat and Conservation
Poynton's forest toads live in moist rainforests on mountains. They are found about 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) above sea level. Scientists found them at night on leaves, about 0.6 to 1.6 meters (2 to 5 feet) off the ground. During the day, they hide on the ground, under fallen trees or wood.
Male toads usually call near streams after the sun sets. Sometimes they start calling in the late afternoon. We don't know exactly how these toads reproduce. However, other toads in the same group give birth to live, tiny toadlets instead of laying eggs. This toad likely does the same.
In 2003, the Poynton's forest toad was fairly common in its small home area. But later searches could not find any. This suggests that their numbers have dropped a lot. It is possible they are already gone. The forests where they live are shrinking because people are cutting down trees for wood. The area where this toad was found is inside the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. This park helps protect the animals and plants that live there.
