The herpetofauna of Mountains of Tanzania
Nectophrynoides cryptus , Perret, 1971
IUCN: ENDANGERED (EN)
typeHolotype: MCZ 12480, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.
type localityNyingwa, Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania
Uluguru, Uluguru north, Uluguru south,
Habitat and Ecology
The type series was collected in forest, secondary forest, banana cultivation and bamboo. From this information, it seems that it can tolerate a degree of habitat disturbance, but probably not the complete opening of its habitat that has taken place in some parts of the Ulugurus. It is ovoviviparous, with internal fertilization, the females retaining the larvae internally in the oviduct until the birth of the toadlets.
It occurs in the Uluguru North Forest Reserve, but this area is not generally managed for biodiversity conservation. Improved management of this reserve, and the protection of other remaining forest habitat in the Ulugurus, is necessary.
It is listed on CITES Appendix I.
Description and Diagnosis
A small thin toad (SVL < 34mm) with a pointed snout. Tympanum is not visible, although there is an indentation in that region. The first finger is shorter than the second. The toe and finger tips are not expanded. There is a moderate amount of webbing on the toes and fingers. Parotid glands are located in the scapular region.
This species has more extensive webbing than other species in the genus that occur in the Uluguru Mountains.
Frost, D.R. 2010. Amphibian Species of the World: an online reference. Version 5.4 (8 April, 2010). American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/
Harper, E.B., G.J. Measey, D.A. Patrick, M. Menegon and J.R. Vonesh. 2010. Field Guide to the Amphibians of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya. Camerapix Publishers International, Nairobi, Kenya.
Loader, S., J. Poynton and K. Howell. 2004. Nectophrynoides cryptus. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 29 January 2011.
Perret, J.-L. 1971.. Annales de la Faculte des Sciences du Cameroun. Yaoundé 6: 99-109.