Nectophrynoides tornieri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nectophrynoides tornieri |
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Nectophryne tornieri Roux, 1906 |
Tornier's forest toad, also known as kijula, is a special kind of toad. It belongs to the Bufonidae family, which includes many toads. This toad only lives in Tanzania and nowhere else in the world! A scientist named Jean Roux first described it in 1906. He named it after another German zoologist, Gustav Tornier.
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What Does Tornier's Forest Toad Look Like?
These toads are quite interesting because males and females look different. This is called being sexually dimorphic. Their colors can also change a lot from one toad to another.
Male toads are smaller, about 28 mm (1.1 in) long. That's like a little over an inch! Their backs are brownish-red, and their bellies are grey or white.
Female toads are a bit bigger, around 34 mm (1.3 in) long. Their backs are a rusty color, often with a yellow spot in the middle. Their bellies look almost clear. Some females might also have two black stripes on their lower legs and feet.
Both male and female toads have special fingers. These fingers have wide, flat, and blunt pads on them.
Where Does Tornier's Forest Toad Live?
Tornier's forest toad lives only in the Eastern Arc Mountains in southern and eastern Tanzania. It makes its home in forests and in farm areas right next to forests. You can find them at different heights, from 300 metres (980 ft) up to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level.
This toad spends its time on the ground. It likes to climb around in low plants. It also searches for food on the ground and hides under piles of leaf litter.
What Does Tornier's Forest Toad Eat?
Tornier's forest toad enjoys eating small bugs. Its favorite meal is small ants.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Tornier's forest toads breed when it's the rainy season. Male toads try to attract females by making calls at night. They do this from low plants. When they call, they stand in a special way with all four legs stretched out.
Unlike most frogs and toads, this species gives birth to live young. This is called being viviparous. The eggs are fertilized inside the female's body. These eggs, which are about 3 to 4 millimeters wide, grow directly into tiny toads inside the female. Scientists have found up to 35 baby toads developing inside one female toad!
How Is Tornier's Forest Toad Doing?
The Tornier's forest toad is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing. Even though the total area where it lives is smaller than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), there are many of these toads in most of that area. Experts don't think their numbers are going down much.
This toad is quite good at adapting to changes. If its forest home is cut down, it can move into farm areas and banana farms. However, illegal gold mining is still a threat to these toads.
