Sclerophrys urunguensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sclerophrys urunguensis |
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Bufo urunguensis Loveridge, 1932 |
The Urungu toad is a special kind of toad that lives in Africa. It is found near the border between Tanzania and Zambia. This area is close to the southeastern part of Lake Tanganyika. Scientists first described this toad in 1932. Its scientific name is Sclerophrys urunguensis. Some scientists think it might actually belong to a different group called Poyntonophrynus, but this change has not been made yet.
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What the Urungu Toad Looks Like
Urungu toads are quite small. Their body length, from nose to tail, is usually between 19 and 29 millimeters (about 0.7 to 1.1 inches). The first female toad described was 28 millimeters long.
Body Features
- Snout: Their snout (nose area) is short and flat at the end.
- Canthus: They have a clear ridge that runs from their snout to their eye.
- Eardrum: The toad's eardrum, called a tympanum, is small, round, and easy to see.
- Fingers and Toes: Their fingers are long. Their toes might have a little bit of webbing between them.
Skin and Color
The skin on the toad's back, called the dorsum, is very rough. It has many small bumps with sharp points. The back is usually grey, with hints of brick-red and a touch of purple.
There is often a lighter area between their eyes. This lighter patch stretches backward and splits to cover the special glands behind their eyes, called parotoid glands. They also have several dark, uneven spots. One of these spots often looks like a V-shape. The underside of the toad is creamy white with purple speckles.
Where the Urungu Toad Lives and Its Safety
Scientists do not know a lot about exactly what kind of home the Urungu toad needs. The first toads found lived in a small piece of rainforest that was left. More recently, these toads have been seen in woodland areas.
Why It's in Danger
If these toads need forest areas to live, they are in trouble. The forests where they live are shrinking and becoming less healthy. This means the toads are losing their homes. We do not know if the Urungu toad lives in any protected areas, like national parks, which would help keep them safe.
