Nectophrynoides viviparus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nectophrynoides viviparus |
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Pseudophryne vivipara Tornier, 1905 |
The Nectophrynoides viviparus is a type of toad that belongs to the Bufonidae family. It is found only in Tanzania, a country in East Africa. People sometimes call it the robust forest toad or the Morogoro tree toad.
What It Looks Like
This toad is quite strong and can grow up to 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) long. Its skin feels smooth and has many small glands that produce a slimy substance.
Right behind its eyes, you can see two large bumps called paratoid glands. Near these glands are its round eardrums, known as tympani. This toad also has big glands on its legs. These glands often have a different color than the rest of its skin.
The toes on its hands and feet are partly webbed, like a duck's foot. This helps it move around. Some of these toads are black with white marks, while others can be grey, green, or a dull red color. Interestingly, another frog species, Callulina meteora, found in Tanzania's mountains, also has similar large, colorful glands on its limbs.
Where It Lives
You can find the Nectophrynoides viviparus in the Uluguru Mountains and Udzungwa Mountains in eastern and southern Tanzania. It prefers to live in areas with trees, among bamboo plants, and in grassy spots at the edge of forests. These toads live at high altitudes, from about 1,350 to 2,800 meters (4,430 to 9,190 feet) above sea level.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The Nectophrynoides viviparus is a land-dwelling toad. It has a special way of reproducing called ovoviviparous. This means the mother does not need a pond or other body of water to lay her eggs.
Instead, the eggs are fertilized inside the mother's body. The young toads then grow and develop inside her oviduct (a tube where eggs travel). They pass through the tadpole stage while still inside the mother. When they are ready, they emerge as fully formed, tiny toads, looking just like miniature adults!
Its Status
This toad lives in several separate groups across an area of about 55,000 square kilometers (21,200 square miles). Even though it is fairly common, the number of these toads seems to be going down.
The main threat to the Nectophrynoides viviparus is the loss of its natural home. This happens because of farming, people collecting wood, and new human settlements, especially in lower areas.
