Rhaebo caeruleostictus

Rhaebo caeruleostictus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Rhaebo
Species: R. caeruleostictus
Binomial name
Rhaebo caeruleostictus
(Günther, 1859)
Synonyms

Bufo caeruleostictus Günther, 1859
Bufo chanchanensis Fowler, 1913

Rhaebo caeruleostictus (common name: blue-spotted toad) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Ecuador along the lower western slope of the Cordillera Occidental at elevations of 40–2,000 m (130–6,560 ft) asl.[1][2][3][4] The specific name caeruleostictus, from Latin caeruleus (=blue) and Greek stiktos (spotted), refers to the bluish colour pattern of this species.[3][5]

Description

Males measure 76–81 mm (3.0–3.2 in) and females 72–92 mm (2.8–3.6 in) in snout–vent length.[3][4][5] The Dorsum and sides have blueish-blackish vermiculations on orangish background (this colouration is assumed to be aposematic). Tympanum is not visible.[5] Parotoid glands are large.[4]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are tropical moist forests and cloud forests.[1] It is a terrestrial species that breeds in riparian habitats.[5]

It is a rare species that is threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion, logging, and wood plantations.[1] It has not been seen since 1997, and it might be extinct.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cisneros-Heredia, D.; Almandáriz, A.; Yánez-Muñoz, M.; Coloma, L.A. & Ron, S. (2004). "Rhaebo caeruleostictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Rhaebo caeruleostictus (Günther, 1859)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Coloma, L. A.; Hoogmoed, M. S. (2014). "Rhaebo caeruleostictus". Anfibios de Ecuador. Centro Jambatu, Fundación Otonga. Quito, Ecuador. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Coloma, L. A.; Ron, S. R.; Frenkel, C.; Félix-Novoa, C. & Quiguango-Ubillús, A. (2010–2014). "Rhaebo caeruleostictus". Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. and Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Arteaga, A.; Bustamante, L. & Guayasamin, J. M. (2013). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Mindo. Quito: Universitad Tecnológica Indoamérica. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-9942-13-496-7.
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