| Raucous toad | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Sclerophrys |
| Species: | S. capensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Sclerophrys capensis Tschudi, 1838 | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
The raucous toad (Sclerophrys capensis), [3] also known as Ranger's toad, is a species of toad from Southern Africa. [2] [4]
Sclerophrys capensis is a member of the family Bufonidae. This species was described as Bufo regularis rangeri, in 1935, by John Hewitt of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, from collections made by naturalist Gordon A. Ranger at his farm "Gleniffer" 3 km E of Kei Road, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. [5] [6] Among several other forms described from these collections was the eastern leopard toad, Sclerophrys pardalis, which Ranger distinguished from the raucous toad on behaviour and calls (according to his nephew, Mr Gary Ranger, "Gleniffer" was subdivided in the late 1930s and the portions renamed, including "Hillside" and "Rockdale", where there is a monument to the older Mr Ranger). Hewitt considered the raucous toad, along with most other large toads of Southern Africa, as subspecies of the widespread African toad Bufo regularis (a species which is now considered absent from Southern Africa, predominantly occurring in subsaharan Africa north of the equator). In 1964, Poynton raised Bufo rangeri of Hewitt, 1935 to full species status, distinguishing it from co-occurring related forms. [7] More recently, Frost and co-authors (2006) assigned this species to the new genus Amietophrynus, as part of a global revision of amphibian taxonomy based largely on DNA sequence data. [8]
Ohler and Dubois (2016) studied the type (and, previously, the only known) specimen of Sclerophrys capensis, collected in the Cape Province and described by Johann Jakob von Tschudi in 1838, and discovered that it belonged to the present species, then known as Amietophrynus rangeri. Accordingly, following the Principle of Priority of the ICZN Code, Sclerophrys replaces Amietophrynus, and S. capensis replaces A. rangeri, as the valid name for this genus and species, respectively. [3]
Its maximal size, snout-to-vent, is about 120 mm. It is a characteristically robust medium-large-sized toad, dorsal and lateral skin liberally sprinkled with wart-like protuberances. Colour brown-to-greyish with more-or-less paired dark-brown patches flanking the medial dorsal line. The dark patches on the head meet in a brown chevron on top of the head behind and between the eyes. The anterior dorsal skin of the head lacks dark brown patches. Like most typical toads, it has a large parotoid gland behind each eye. If injured it will exude whitish spots of venom on the parotoid glands; this can be hazardous to domestic dogs if they bite a toad. The underside is whitish with the gular (throat) area of males infused with yellow with a dark blue-black bar posterior to the gular.
The advertisement call, made by males in the breeding season, is a loud repetitive duck-like quacking. [4] Groups of calling males generally space themselves along the water's edge, or among plants in the water. Males in chorus call antiphonally (with calls from different individuals alternating).
It is fairly aquatic as toads go, commonly inhabiting ponds and dams and streams, though it seems to prefer running water and accordingly favours fountains and similar water bodies. [4] It typically is shy, but like many toads it will visit houses and other places where insect prey are attracted to lights, mainly outside the breeding season. It then establishes itself in moist, sheltered spots such as behind flowerpots and becomes tame if not molested. It will eat practically any small animal, including small vertebrates, but mainly insects up to the size of crickets.
S. capensis occurs in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, [1] [2] extreme southern Namibia, [2] and possibly extreme southern Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. [1] [2]
S. capensis occurs in fynbos heathland, grassland, dry thicket forest, savanna, and agricultural land. Breeding takes place in dams, ponds, and pools along slow-forming streams. It shows some preference for permanent water bodies. [1]
Sclerophrys taiensis is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is known from the Taï National Park in southwestern Ivory Coast and from the Gola Forest in southeastern Sierra Leone; it is likely that its range extends into the adjacent Liberia. Common name Tai toad has been proposed for it.
Sclerophrys asmarae, also known as the Asmara toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is named after its type locality, the capital city of Eritrea, Asmara. It is found on the Ethiopian Highlands on both sides of the Rift Valley, with the western population extending north into Eritrea. Its natural habitats are montane grasslands, and tentatively at lower elevations, arid savanna. It is a locally common and adaptable species that is impacted by habitat degradation, though probably without posing a serious risk.
Sclerophrys fuliginata is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. The specific name fuliginata is Latin for "sooty", in reference to the species' appearance of a more or less diffusely uniform exterior color and pattern. It is also known as the Shaba Province toad or sooty toad. It is found in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southeastern Tanzania, and northern Zambia.
Sclerophrys garmani, also known as Garman's toad or eastern olive toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is widely distributed in East and Southern Africa. However, populations north and south of Tanzania might represent distinct species. If so, the name Sclerophrys garmani would apply to populations from northeastern Africa. Furthermore, its southern boundary towards the range of Sclerophrys poweri in South Africa is also unclear.
Sclerophrys kerinyagae is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in central Ethiopia, Kenya, northern Tanzania, and eastern Uganda. Common names Keith's toad and Kerinyaga toad have been coined for it.
Sclerophrys langanoensis is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to northern Rift Valley in Ethiopia, where it has been recorded from Lake Langano and the Awash National Park; the latter population might represent a distinct species. It is likely that this species will also be found in Eritrea and Somalia. Common name Lake Langano toad has been coined for it.
The Berber toad, also known as Mauritanian toad, Moroccan toad, pantherine toad or Moorish toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae, which is found in north-western Africa, with an introduced population in southern Spain.
Mertensophryne mocquardi is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Kenya and known from Mount Kenya, the Kinangop Plateau, and the highlands surrounding Nairobi. The specific name mocquardi refers to François Mocquard, a French herpetologist. It was put in synonymy of Mertensophryne lonnbergi in 1972, but re-validated in 1997.
The western leopard toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. The species is endemic to the low-lying areas of the Cape Peninsula, the Cape Flats and the Agulhas flats of the Western Cape, South Africa.
Sclerophrys perreti is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Idanre Hills in southwestern Nigeria. Sclerophrys perreti is one of the frogs declared as "Lost" in 2010. However, it was re-discovered at its type locality in 2013. Before that, it had not been seen—possibly—since 1970, and with certainty, since 1963. Common name Perret's toad has been coined for it.
Sclerophrys reesi, also known as Merara toad or Rees' toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to southern Tanzania and is only known from the Kihansi–Ulanga River floodplain from elevations of 200–500 m (660–1,640 ft) above sea level. It is named after Allen Rees, a principal game warden for the Tanzanian Wildlife Department who collected the type series.
Sclerophrys regularis, commonly known as the African common toad, square-marked toad, African toad, Egyptian toad, African bouncing toad and Reuss's toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found widely in the Subsaharan Africa, with its range extending to the oases in Algeria and Libya as well as to northern Nilotic Egypt. Specifically, it is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda.
Sclerophrys togoensis, known commonly as the Tingi Hills toad or Togo toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in West Africa from Sierra Leone to Togo. Its natural habitats are rivers subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and high forest at moderate elevations. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Sclerophrys tuberosa is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, southwestern Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and northern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo. Common names rough toad, warty toad, and Fernando Po toad have been proposed for it.
Sclerophrys is a genus of "true toads", family Bufonidae, native to Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. Originally, all of these species were classified in the genus Bufo. The genus, originally named Amietophrynus, was split due to large enough taxonomic divergence. Ohler and Dubois showed in 2016 that Sclerophrys capensis Tschudi, 1838 is the same species as Bufo regularis rangeri Hewitt, 1935, the type species of Amietophrynus. Because the former name is older, the implication is that Amietophrynus is a junior synonym of Sclerophrys.
Poyntonophrynus, also known as pygmy toads, are a genus consisting of ten true toad species native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Originally, all Poyntonophrynus species were included in the genus Bufo. The genus was split due to large enough taxonomic divergence as evidenced by molecular markers. The genus is named in honour of John C. Poynton, South African herpetologist, with phrynus being Greek for toad.
Vandijkophrynus, also known as Van Dijk's toads, are a small genus of true toads, family Bufonidae. They are native to Southern Africa. The name commemorates Eddie Van Dijk, a South African herpetologist.
