Ghatophryne

Ghatophryne is a small genus of true toads endemic to the southern Western Ghats, India.[1] The genus was erected in 2009 when the former Ansonia ornata was found to be distinct enough to warrant its own genus; Ansonia rubigina was moved based on its morphological similarity and distribution.[2]

Ghatophryne
Ghatophryne ornata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Ghatophryne
Biju, Van Bocxlaer, Giri, Loader, and Bossuyt, 2009
Type species
Ansonia ornata
Günther, "1876" 1875
Diversity
2 species (see text)

Description

Ghatophryne are small-sized toads with adult males measuring up to 30 mm (1.2 in) and females up to 35 mm (1.4 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is reddish brown; ventrum is dark brownish black with prominent yellowish-orange spots. They do not possess parotoid glands. Fingers are free of webbing whereas the toes are medium webbed. Skin on dorsum has sparsely granular projections, especially on anterior half of the body. Eggs are non-pigmented. Tadpoles have a suctorial disk, an adaptation to mountain streams.[2]

Species

This small genus has two species at present:[1][3]

  • Ghatophryne ornata (Günther, 1876) — ornate toad, Malabar torrent toad, or black torrent toad
  • Ghatophryne rubigina (Pillai and Pattabiraman, 1981) — Kerala stream toad, Silent Valley torrent toad, or red torrent toad

References
  1. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Ghatophryne Biju, Van Bocxlaer, Giri, Loader, and Bossuyt, 2009". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  2. Biju, S.D.; Van Bocxlaer, Ines; Giri, Varad B.; Loader, Simon P.; Bossuyt, Franky (2009). "Two new endemic genera and a new species of toad (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Western Ghats of India". BMC Research Notes. 2: 241. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-2-241.
  3. "Bufonidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
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