Peltophryne

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Peltophryne
Puerto Rican crested toad.jpg
Peltophryne lemur
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Peltophryne
Fitzinger, 1843
Type species
Bufo peltocephalus
Tschudi, 1838
Species

See text

Peltophryne is a genus of true toads in the family Bufonidae, [1] [2] [3] from the Greater Antilles (in Cuba, Isla de Juventud, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico). [1] With ten endemic species, Cuba hosts the highest diversity. Hispaniola has three endemics and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands combined have one. [4]

Contents

Description

Peltophryne range is size from the relatively small Peltophryne cataulaciceps with a snout–vent length (SVL) of 30 mm (1.2 in) to the large Peltophryne peltocephala with SVL of 170 mm (6.7 in). The skull is as long as wide and contains some unique osteological features (thickened dermal tissue covering the snout and usually ossified into a pair of rostral bones, and squamosal-maxillary articulation). These are considered to be derived characters that set these toads apart from other bufonids. [5]

Taxonomy

The genus was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1843, but placed in synonymy with Bufo by Albert Günther in 1859. [1] Subsequent work has considered Peltophryne either as a valid genus, a subgenus, or a synonym of Bufo . At present, treating Peltophryne as a valid genus has largely been accepted based on both morphological characters and genetic evidence, [1] [2] [3] [6] but treating it as a subgenus of Bufo still has a small following. [1]

Species

There are 14 species in this genus: [1] [2]

Conservation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed many of the species as "Critically Endangered" ( Peltophryne florentinoi , Peltophryne fluviatica , and Peltophryne lemur ) or "Endangered" ( Peltophryne cataulaciceps , Peltophryne guentheri , and Peltophryne longinasus ), primarily due to habitat loss from development. [7] Surviving wild populations of Peltophryne lemur have been supported by captive bred animals. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Pelophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

Pelophryne, commonly known as flathead toads or dwarf toads, is a genus of true toads, family Bufonidae. The genus occurs in the Philippines, Borneo, Malaya including Singapore, and Hainan (China). Molecular data suggest that Pelophryne is the sister taxon of Ansonia.

Peltophryne fluviatica, also known as the Dominican Caribbean toad or Hispaniolan crestless toad, is a species of toad endemic to the Cibao Valley in the northwestern Dominican Republic. It has only been recorded at two localities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rican crested toad</span> Species of Amphibia

The Puerto Rican crested toad, or simply Puerto Rican toad, is a species of toad found only in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is the only species of toad native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The species formerly occurred in Virgin Gorda and along the southern and northern karst in Puerto Rico. It is listed as a threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service due to habitat loss and introduced species. At one period of time it was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1966. The IUCN has the species listed as endangered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carchi Andes toad</span> Species of amphibian

The Carchi Andes toad is a species of toad endemic to the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador and southern Colombia. It is listed as an endangered species due to a restricted range and habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolian toad</span> Species of amphibian

The Mongolian toad, also known commonly as the piebald toad or the Siberian sand toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. The species is endemic to northeastern Asia. It was formerly placed in the genus Bufo, then for a few years in Pseudepidalea until finally moved to its own genus Strauchbufo.

The Cuban pine toad, or Schwartz's Caribbean toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae.

<i>Rhinella dorbignyi</i> Species of amphibian

Rhinella dorbignyi is a South American species of toad in the family Bufonidae. The specific name, dorbignyi, is in honor of French naturalist Alcide d'Orbigny. Its common name is d'Orbigny's toad or Dorbigny's toad [sic].

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban small-eared toad</span> Species of amphibian

The Cuban small-eared toad, also known as the Cuban toad or Cope's Caribbean toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae that is endemic to Cuba including Isla de Juventud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western giant toad</span> Species of amphibian

The western giant toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae that is endemic to western Cuba. It occurs in a range of habitats including broadleaf forest, grassland, savanna, and agricultural areas. It is a common species but it can be locally threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Peltophryne guentheri</i> Species of amphibian

Peltophryne guentheri, the southern crested toad or Gunther's Caribbean toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and found in the lowlands of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The Cuban high-crested toad, or Gundlach's Caribbean toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae that is endemic to Cuba.

<i>Peltophryne peltocephala</i> Species of amphibian

Peltophryne peltocephala is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Cuba and found in central and eastern Cuba as well as on some outlying islands. It occurs in a range of habitats including broadleaf forest, grassland, savanna, and agricultural areas. It is a common species but locally threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban spotted toad</span> Species of amphibian

The Cuban spotted toad, or Cuban Caribbean toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to central and eastern Cuba. Its natural habitats are lowland mesic broadleaf forests, but it also occurs on cultivated fields as long as they are not too intensively farmed. It is common in suitable habitat but its distribution is severely fragmented and its habitat is threatened by intensive agriculture, charcoaling, and nickel mining.

<i>Mertensophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

Mertensophryne is a genus of true toads. They are found in eastern and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, southeastern Zimbabwe, and adjacent Mozambique. Their common names include snouted frogs, Chirinda forest toads, and forest toads. The genus is named for Robert Mertens, German zoologist and herpetologist.

<i>Rhaebo</i> Genus of amphibians

Rhaebo is a genus of true toads, family Bufonidae, from Central and South America. They are distributed from Honduras to northern South America including the Amazonian lowlands. Common name Cope toads has been suggested for them.

<i>Phrynoidis</i> Genus of amphibians

Phrynoidis is a small genus of true toads, family Bufonidae. They are found in Mainland Southeast Asia and the Greater Sundas. They are sometimes known as the rough toads or river toads.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Peltophryne Fitzinger, 1843". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bufonidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Peltophryne Fitzinger, 1843". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  4. Alonso, R.; Crawford, A. J.; Bermingham, E. (2012). "Molecular phylogeny of an endemic radiation of Cuban toads (Bufonidae: Peltophryne) based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes". Journal of Biogeography. 39 (3): 434–451. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02594.x.
  5. Pregill, G. (1981). "Cranial morphology and the evolution of West Indian toads (Salientia: Bufonidae): resurrection of the genus Peltophryne Fitzinger". Copeia. 1981 (2): 273–285. doi:10.2307/1444216. JSTOR   1444216.
  6. S. Blair Hedges (2015). "Caribherp: Amphibians and reptiles of Caribbean Islands" . Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  7. IUCN. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>" . Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  8. Ariadne Angulo (2010). "Peltophryne lemur". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T54345A11127094. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T54345A11127094.en .