Nectophrynoides wendyae

Nectophrynoides wendyae, also known as the Uzungwe Scarp tree toad or Wendy's forest toad, is a terrestrial toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Tanzania and is only known from a single valley in the Udzungwa Mountains.[1][3] The specific name wendyae honours Wendy Clarke, the describer's wife.[2][4]


Nectophrynoides wendyae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Nectophrynoides
Species:
N. wendyae
Binomial name
Nectophrynoides wendyae
Clarke, 1988[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Nectophrynoides wendyi — incorrect subsequent spelling

Description

Nectophrynoides wendyae is a robust-bodied dwarf frog. Adult males can grow to about 18 mm (0.7 in) and adult females to 22 mm (0.9 in) in snout–vent length. The head is longer than it is wide, and the snout is long and pointed. No tympanum is present. The parotoid gland are distinct but low and ridge-like. The finger and the toe tips are pointed. The toes have very reduced webbing. Skin is generally smooth but there are some scattered spines/tubercles. Alcohol-preserved specimens are dorsally tan brown with scattered darker brown specks. The ventral surfaces are mostly light with scattered minute black specks, but the interfemoral region has a large chocolate-brown mark beset with white tubercles.[2]

Habitat and conservation

Nectophrynoides wendyae occurs in montane rainforest at elevations of 1,500–1,650 m (4,920–5,410 ft) above sea level. It is a leaf-litter dweller;[1] the type series was caught with pitfall traps.[2]

While quite abundant in one tiny part of its range, Nectophrynoides wendyae is listed as critically endangered due to its very restricted distribution (estimated extent of occurrence no more than 15 km2) and ongoing habitat deterioration and loss. It occurs in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, but the area is not well protected.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2015). "Nectophrynoides wendyae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T54847A13322540. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T54847A13322540.en.
  2. Clarke, Barry T. (1988). "The amphibian fauna of the East African rainforests, including the description of a new species of toad, genus Nectophrynoides Noble 1926 (Anura Bufonidae)". Tropical Zoology. 1 (2): 169–177. doi:10.1080/03946975.1988.10539412.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2019). "Nectophrynoides wendyae Clarke, 1988". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  4. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
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