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]
A large-sized Scutiger, adult males of S. occidentalis measure 57–70mm (2.2–2.8in) and adult females 63–72mm (2.5–2.8in) in snout–vent length. The snout is relatively short.[5]
S. occidentalis inhabits high-mountain regions at elevations between 2,680 and 4,300m (8,790 and 14,110ft)above sea level. A tadpole was found from a 0.5-metre deep pool under a waterfall.[4]
1 2 3 4 Litvinchuk, S. N.; Melnikov, D. A.; Borkin, L. J. & Hofmann, S. (2019). "Rediscovery of the high altitude lazy toad, Scutiger occidentalis Dubois, 1978, in India". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 26 (1): 17–22. doi:10.30906/1026-2296-2019-26-1-17-22.
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