Scutiger occidentalis

Scutiger occidentalis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Megophryidae
Genus:	Scutiger
Species:	S. occidentalis
Binomial name
Scutiger occidentalis Dubois  [ fr ], 1978

Scutiger occidentalis is a species of toad found in the Western Himalayas of Pakistan (Gilgit Baltistan) and northwestern India (Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh). It has often been treated as a synonym of Scutiger nyingchiensis (by, e.g., IUCN in 2004 ^[1] ), 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. ^{[2] [3]} It is the most western member of its genus. ^{[3] [4]}

Description

A large-sized Scutiger, adult males of S. occidentalis measure 57–70 mm (2.2–2.8 in) and adult females 63–72 mm (2.5–2.8 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is relatively short. ^[5]

A Gosner stage 25 tadpole measured 8.9 mm (0.4 in) in snout–vent length and 22.5 mm (0.9 in) in total length. ^[4]

Habitat and conservation

S. occidentalis inhabits high-mountain regions at elevations between 2,680 and 4,300 m (8,790 and 14,110 ft) above sea level. A tadpole was found from a 0.5-metre deep pool under a waterfall. ^[4]

As of October 2021, S. occidentalis has only been included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a synonym of S. nyingchiensis, ^[6] corresponding to the western part of its range. ^[4] S. nyingchiensis was assessed as a "least-concern species" in 2004. ^[1]

References

6. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" . Retrieved 23 October 2021.