Rhinella chrysophora

Rhinella chrysophora, sometimes known as the Rio Viejo toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera Nombre de Dios on the Atlantic versant in north-central Honduras.[2]

Rhinella chrysophora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Rhinella
Species:
R. chrysophora
Binomial name
Rhinella chrysophora
(McCranie, Wilson, and Williams, 1989)
Synonyms[2]

Atelophryniscus chrysophorus McCranie, Wilson, and Williams, 1989[3]
Bufo chrysophorus (McCranie, Wilson, and Williams, 1989)
Chaunus chrysophorus (McCranie, Wilson, and Williams, 1989)

Description

Based on the type series consisting of two adult males (including the holotype) and an adult female, males measure 33.6–37.4 mm (1.32–1.47 in) and females 36.2 mm (1.43 in) in snout–vent length. The parotoid gland is subtriangular. The fingers have no webbing whereas the toes are webbed. The dorsum is pale to dark lime green with olive brown blotching and pale lime green lateral or dorsolater stripes. There are rusty brick red pustules. The venter is pale blue-green, with dark chocolate brown mottling.[3]

The tadpoles are "gastromyzophorous",[3] that is, torrent-adapted tadpoles that bear an abdominal sucker.[4] They resemble those of another bufonid genus, Atelopus, although the adults are different. The suctorial disc is large, extending about three-fourths length of body. The coloration is black with gold markings. The largest tadpoles are about 26 mm (1.0 in) in total length. A newly metamorphosed juvenile with a tail stub measured 9.2 mm (0.36 in) in snout–vent length.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are premontane and lower montane wet forests at elevations of 750–1,760 m (2,460–5,770 ft) above sea level.[1] The tadpoles develop in mountain streams, clinging to rocks and boulders.[1][3] It is threatened by habitat loss caused by landslides and slash-and-burn agriculture. The range of the species include the Pico Bonito National Park.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2020). "Rhinella chrysophora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T54486A54358143. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Rhinella chrysophora (McCranie, Wilson, and Williams, 1989)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  3. McCranie, James R.; Wilson, Larry David; Williams, Kenneth L. (1989). "A new genus and species of toad (Anura: Bufonidae) with an extraordinary stream-adapted tadpole from northern Honduras". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas. 129: 1–18.
  4. Inger, R.F. (1966). "The systematics and zoogeography of the amphibia of Borneo". Fieldiana Zoology. 52: 1–402. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.3147.
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