Scutiger boulengeri

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Scutiger boulengeri
Scutiger boulengeri.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Megophryidae
Genus: Scutiger
Species:
S. boulengeri
Binomial name
Scutiger boulengeri
(Bedriaga, 1898)
Synonyms

Leptobrachium boulengeriBedriaga, 1898

Scutiger boulengeri (common names: Boulenger's lazy toad, Boulenger's high altitude toad, Himalayan stream frog, and Xizang alpine toad) is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is found in Nepal, India (Sikkim) and western China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai, and Tibet). [2] A healthy population has been found at an elevation of 5,270 m (17,290 ft) in one of the lakes in the Gurudongmar Lake complex in Sikkimese Himalaya. [3] This is one of the highest elevations where amphibians have ever been recorded ( Pleurodema marmoratum has been recorded higher at the Andes [4] ). [5] [6]

Contents

Description

Scutiger boulengeri males measure about 45–55 mm (1.8–2.2 in) and females about 50–62 mm (2.0–2.4 in) in snout–vent length. [3] [7] The head is flat, wider than long and with a rounded snout. The eyes are protruding. The tympanum is indistinct; the supratympanal fold is present. The dorsum is olive or greenish-grey with numerous warts. The ventrum is yellowish. The fingers have no webbing whereas the toes have rudimentary webbing. [6]

Tadpoles grow to a length of about 60 mm (2.4 in). [7]

Habitat and conservation

Scutiger boulengeri is an alpine species living near streams and lakes in grassland habitats [1] at elevations of 3,300–5,270 m (10,830–17,290 ft) above sea level. [2] [3] They hibernate in loose soil from September to March or April. [3]

Scutiger boulengeri is a very common species but potentially threatened by diversion of water for agriculture, pollution from agrochemicals, and overgrazing. However, it is not considered threatened overall. [1]

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Scutiger sikimmensis is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Many common names have been coined for this species: Sikkim lazy toad, Sikimmese pelobatid toad, Sikkim high altitude toad, Sikkim spade foot frog, Blyth's short-limbed frog, and Sikkim snow toad. It is very common in the high altitudes of Sikkimese Himalaya.

<i>Xenophrys major</i> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megophrys glandulosa</span> Species of amphibian

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Scutiger adungensis is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is only known with certainty from two specimens collected in 1931 from Adung Valley in northern Myanmar, near the border to Tibet; there are more recent unconfirmed sightings. Common name Adung lazy toad has been coined for it.

<i>Scutiger</i> (frog) Genus of amphibians

Scutiger is a genus of toads in the family Megophryidae. Common name lazy toads has been coined for them. They occur in China, Burma, Nepal, and northern India in high-altitude habitats. Most are endemic to China.

Scutiger chintingensis, also known as the Chinting lazy toad or Chinting alpine toad, is an endangered species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to the Mount Emei region of Sichuan, China.

Scutiger mammatus is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Western China and known from eastern Tibet, southeastern Qinghai, western Sichuan, and northwestern Yunnan.

Scutiger nepalensis, otherwise known as the Nepal lazy toad, is a species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is found in Nepal, possibly China, and possibly India. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Scutiger ningshanensis is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae known commonly as the Ningshan lazy toad and Ningshan alpine toad. It is endemic to Ningshan County in Shaanxi, China. It is a poorly known species; only two specimens have been collected, both from one location. The species has been recorded in grassy habitat near forest streams at up to 2550 meters in elevation. It may face threats from small-scale farming in the area.

Scutiger pingwuensis is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae known commonly as the Pingwu lazy toad and the Pingwu alpine toad. It is endemic to Pingwu County in Sichuan, China. It lives near villages at about 2200 meters in elevation. Its habitat includes streams bordered by dense shrubs. It lays eggs under rocks in the streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little horned toad</span> Species of frog

The little horned toad, also known as the dwarf horned toad, Kwangshien spadefoot toad, or tiny spadefoot toad, is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is found in southern China, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly in Laos and Myanmar. It has recently been reported from Bhutan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Nanorana pleskei</i> Species of amphibian

Nanorana pleskei is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. Until recently it has been only known from southwestern/central western China from elevations between 3,300–4,500 m (10,800–14,800 ft), but there is now one record also from Bhutan. Notice, however, that earlier records outside China have turned out to be misidentifications.

<i>Scutiger spinosus</i> Species of amphibian

Scutiger spinosus is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is found in Medog County, Tibet (China) and in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh (India). Prior to its description in 2016, it was confused with Scutiger nyingchiensis. Common name spiny lazy toad has been coined for it.

Scutiger wuguanfui is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Tibet and only known from its type locality in the Medog County. The specific name wuguanfui honours Wu Guanfu, a Chinese herpetologist. Common names Wu's lazy toad, Medog lazy toad and Medog cat-eyed toad have been coined for it.

Scutiger ghunsa is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to eastern Nepal and only known from its eponymous type locality, Ghunsa, in the Taplejung District. This species is also known as Ghunsa alpine toad and Ghunsa high altitude toad. Its closest relatives are Scutiger nepalensis and Scutiger sikimmensis.

Scutiger occidentalis is a species of toad found in the Western Himalayas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It has often been treated as a synonym of Scutiger nyingchiensis, but molecular data show that these species are distinct. It is also known as the Ladakh high altitude toad, Ladakh pelobatid toad, western pelobatid toad, or Asian lazy toad. It is the most western member of its genus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Annemarie Ohler, Pranabes Sanyal, Fei Liang, Michael Wai Neng Lau (2004). "Scutiger boulengeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T57607A11661516. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57607A11661516.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Scutiger boulengeri (Bedriaga, 1898)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Subba, Barkha; Ravikanth, G. & Aravind, N.A. (2015). "Scaling new heights: first record of Boulenger's lazy toad Scutiger boulengeri (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from high altitude lake in Sikkim Himalaya, India" (PDF). Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (10): 7655–7663. doi: 10.11609/JoTT.o4325.7655-63 .
  4. Seimon, Tracie A.; Seimon, Anton; Daszak, Peter; Halloy, Stephan R.P.; Schloegel, Lisa M.; Aguilar, César A.; Sowell, Preston; Hyatt, Alex D.; Konecky, Bronwen; Simmons, John E. (2007). "Upward range extension of Andean anurans and chytridiomycosis to extreme elevations in response to tropical deglaciation". Global Change Biology. 13 (1): 288–299. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01278.x.
  5. Seimon, Tracie A.; Seimon, Anton (2015). "Comment on "Scaling new heights: first record of Boulenger's Lazy Toad Scutiger boulengeri (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from high altitude lake in Sikkim Himalaya, India" by Barkha Subba, G. Ravikanth & N.A. Aravind (2015)". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (11): 7849–7850. doi: 10.11609/JoTT.o4396.7849-50 .
  6. 1 2 Subba, Barkha; Ravikanth, G.; Aravind, N.A. (2015). "Reply to Global high-altitude limits for amphibians by Tracie A. Seimon and Anton Seimon (2015)". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (11): 7851–7852. doi: 10.11609/JoTT.o4405.7851-2 .
  7. 1 2 Fei, L. (1999). Atlas of Amphibians of China (in Chinese). Zhengzhou: Henan Press of Science and Technology. p. 80. ISBN   7-5349-1835-9.