Scutiger sikimmensis

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Scutiger sikimmensis
Scutiger sikimmensis.jpg
Scutiger sikimmensis from Sikkim, India
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Megophryidae
Genus: Scutiger
Species:
S. sikimmensis
Binomial name
Scutiger sikimmensis
(Blyth, 1855)
Synonyms

Bombinator sikimmensisBlyth, 1855 "1854"
Scutiger sikkimmensis —misspelling

Contents

Scutiger sikimmensis is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is found in northeastern India (West Bengal, Sikkim, and Meghalaya), Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. [2] [3] 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, [2] and Sikkim snow toad. [3] It is very common in the high altitudes of Sikkimese Himalaya. [3]

Description

Males measure 42–62 mm (1.7–2.4 in) and females 45–67 mm (1.8–2.6 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is olive green, brown, or greyish-brown with numerous warts and variable patterning. The underparts are yellowish, uniform and smooth. The head is wider than long; the tympanum is hidden. The parotoid gland are present. The fingers have no webbing whereas the toes have rudimentary webbing. [3] Tadpoles are up to 53 mm (2.1 in) in length. [4]

Habitat and conservation

Scutiger sikimmensis is an alpine toad living near streams, oxbow lakes, seepages, and stream-fed marshes as well as the surrounding forest and grassland habitats. [1] [3] [4] Breeding takes place in streams in May–June [4] or June–August; [3] males call from under the rocks at night. [1] [3] The altitudinal range differs between sources; the lower limit is about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) and the upper limit 4,600–5,000 m (15,100–16,400 ft) above sea level. [1] [3]

The species is common in the Indian part of its range but rare in Tibet. Major threats are diversion of water from breeding streams for irrigation and water pollution from agrochemicals. However, it is not considered threatened overall. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

Scutiger boulengeri is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is found in Nepal, India (Sikkim) and western China. 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. This is one of the highest elevations where amphibians have ever been recorded.

Scutiger nyingchiensis is a species of toad found in the Himalayas of southeastern Tibet (China), northwestern Nepal, and tentatively, Bhutan. There are no confirmed records from India; earlier records refer to Scutiger occidentalis or Scutiger spinosus. Its type locality is Nyingchi, Tibet. It is also known as the Nyingchi high altitude toad, Nyingchi alpine toad, or Nyingchi lazy toad.

<i>Cochranella nola</i> Species of frog

Cochranella nola is a species of frog in the family Centrolenidae, the glass frogs, so named because of the transparent skin on the underside of the abdomen through which the internal organs can be seen. This species is endemic to Bolivia where it is found in the Andean foothills in the Santa Cruz Department. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. The scientific name nola is Latin for "small bell", and refers to the high-pitched, bell-like call of the male in the breeding season.

<i>Leptobrachella liui</i> Species of amphibian

Leptobrachella liui, also known as Fujian Asian toad or Fujian metacarpal-tubercled toad, is a frog species in the family Megophryidae. Originally described from Chong'an in Fujian, it is now known to be widely distributed in southern and southeastern China from Zhejiang and Fujian west to Guizhou and Guangxi.

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 maculatus, the spotted lazy toad or Piebald alpine toad, is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to China where it is known from Garze, northwestern Sichuan and Jiangda, eastern Tibet. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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 muliensis is a species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Sichuan, China, where it is only known from the area of its type locality in Muli county, altitude 3,050–3,400 m (10,010–11,150 ft) asl. Its common name is Muli cat-eyed toad.

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 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.

<i>Nanorana liebigii</i> Species of frog

Nanorana liebigii, also known as Sikkim paa frog, Liebig's paa frog, Liebig's frog, and spiny-armed frog, is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in the Himalayas, specifically in Bhutan, southern Tibet (China), northern India, and Nepal. The specific name liebigii honours a certain "Dr von Liebig Jr.", likely referring to Justus von Liebig, German botanist and chemist.

<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.

Leptobrachella nokrekensis is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Northeast India and only known from the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in East Garo Hills district, Meghalaya. Common names Nokrek megophryid frog and Nokrek's spadefoot toad have been proposed for it.

<i>Oreolalax longmenmontis</i> Species of frog

Oreolalax longmenmontis is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Sichuan, China, and is only known from its type locality in the White River National Nature Reserve, Pengzhou City. The type locality is in the central part of the Longmen Mountains. Accordingly, common name Longmen Mountains toothed toad has been proposed for this species.

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 4 5 Fei, Liang; Lau, Michael Wai Neng; Dutta, Sushil; Ohler, Annemarie; Shrestha, Tej Kumar (2004). "Scutiger sikimmensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2004: e.T57622A11665087. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57622A11665087.en.
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Scutiger sikimmensis (Blyth, 1855)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Subba, Barkha; Ravikanth, G.; Aravind, N.A. (26 August 2015). "Scaling new heights: first record of Boulenger's Lazy Toad Scutiger boulengeri (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from high altitude lake in Sikkim Himalaya, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (10): 7655–7663. doi: 10.11609/JoTT.o4325.7655-63 .
  4. 1 2 3 "Scutiger sikimmensis (Blyth, 1854)". AmphibiaChina (in Chinese). Kunming Institute of Zoology. 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
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