The Cape mountain toad or Rose's mountain toad (Capensibufo rosei) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. Other common names include Rose's mountain toadlet, striped mountain toad, Rose's toad, and Muizenberg Cape toad.[2][3] It is endemic to South Africa, where its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation known as fynbos. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Female Cape mountain toads grow to a length around 39 mm (1.5 in), while males are smaller at 28 mm (1.1 in). The body is relatively long, the hind limbs are short, and the toes are unwebbed. The dorsal surface is variably coloured in shades of grey or brown with a few paler streaks, and is smooth with scattered warts and blister-like ridges. The parotoid glands are obvious, but no tympani (eardrums) are visible, a fact which helps distinguish this species from the otherwise similar Capensibufo tradouwi. The ventral surface is white with dark blotches, and its posterior part has skin granulations. During the breeding season, an oval pink patch is seen underneath the vent.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
Typical mountain fynbos habitat
The Cape mountain toad is endemic to parts of the Western Cape province of South Africa, southwest of the Breede River and including the Cape Peninsula.[1] This is a hilly area and has a Mediterranean-type climate with a rainy season in the winter. It has a distinctive, heathland vegetation known as fynbos, characterised by small evergreen, sclerophyllous plants including proteas and ericoid species, herbs, bulbous plants, and grasses, but not large trees.[4] The Cape mountain toad is found at elevations of between 60 and 1,600 m (200 and 5,250 ft) above sea level, mostly at altitudes above 400 m (1,300 ft).[1]
Biologyedit
Breeding takes place at the time of the winter rains when temporary shallow pools form. The males do not call to attract females, and this may be the only South African species of amphibian that lacks a voice.[3] About one hundred eggs are laid in a gelatinous string and take about twelve days to hatch. The rate of growth of the tadpoles depends on the temperature and availability of food and metamorphosis into juvenile toads may occur about six weeks after hatching.[1][3]
Statusedit
It is only found in fynbos heathland on the Cape and it does not seem to be adaptable to the changes in habitat associated with an increase in nonlocal plants and burning of the heathland that sometimes occurs. Although it is locally common at temporary pools in the breeding season, it occupies only about 2% of the suitable habitat in its range, is known from only two localities and is absent from many areas that seem suitable, including some where it was found in the past. A disjunct population of Capensibufo rosei was initially discovered on Table Mountain in the year 1927.[5] However no activity has been observed for many decades and the current status of this separate population is unknown.[6][1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group.; South African Frog Re-assessment Group; et al. (SA-FRoG) (2017). "Capensibufo rosei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T112716154A47759127. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T112716154A47759127.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
^Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Capensibufo rosei (Hewitt, 1926)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
^ abcdde Villiers, A. L.; Zimcus, Breda. . African Amphibians Lifedesk. Archived from the original on 2011-04-25. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
^Manning, John (2008). Field Guide to Fynbos. Struik Publishers. ISBN9781770072657.
^Rose, Walter (1950). The Reptiles And Amphibians Of Southern Africa (1 ed.). Cape Town: Maskew Miller, Limited. p. 378.
cape, mountain, toad, rose, mountain, toad, capensibufo, rosei, species, toad, family, bufonidae, other, common, names, include, rose, mountain, toadlet, striped, mountain, toad, rose, toad, muizenberg, cape, toad, endemic, south, africa, where, natural, habit. The Cape mountain toad or Rose s mountain toad Capensibufo rosei is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae Other common names include Rose s mountain toadlet striped mountain toad Rose s toad and Muizenberg Cape toad 2 3 It is endemic to South Africa where its natural habitat is Mediterranean type shrubby vegetation known as fynbos It is threatened by habitat loss Cape mountain toad C rosei in Western Cape South Africa Conservation status Critically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Bufonidae Genus Capensibufo Species C rosei Binomial name Capensibufo rosei Hewitt 1926 Synonyms Bufo rosei Hewitt 1926 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology 4 Status 5 ReferencesDescription editFemale Cape mountain toads grow to a length around 39 mm 1 5 in while males are smaller at 28 mm 1 1 in The body is relatively long the hind limbs are short and the toes are unwebbed The dorsal surface is variably coloured in shades of grey or brown with a few paler streaks and is smooth with scattered warts and blister like ridges The parotoid glands are obvious but no tympani eardrums are visible a fact which helps distinguish this species from the otherwise similar Capensibufo tradouwi The ventral surface is white with dark blotches and its posterior part has skin granulations During the breeding season an oval pink patch is seen underneath the vent 3 Distribution and habitat edit nbsp Typical mountain fynbos habitat The Cape mountain toad is endemic to parts of the Western Cape province of South Africa southwest of the Breede River and including the Cape Peninsula 1 This is a hilly area and has a Mediterranean type climate with a rainy season in the winter It has a distinctive heathland vegetation known as fynbos characterised by small evergreen sclerophyllous plants including proteas and ericoid species herbs bulbous plants and grasses but not large trees 4 The Cape mountain toad is found at elevations of between 60 and 1 600 m 200 and 5 250 ft above sea level mostly at altitudes above 400 m 1 300 ft 1 Biology editBreeding takes place at the time of the winter rains when temporary shallow pools form The males do not call to attract females and this may be the only South African species of amphibian that lacks a voice 3 About one hundred eggs are laid in a gelatinous string and take about twelve days to hatch The rate of growth of the tadpoles depends on the temperature and availability of food and metamorphosis into juvenile toads may occur about six weeks after hatching 1 3 Status editIt is only found in fynbos heathland on the Cape and it does not seem to be adaptable to the changes in habitat associated with an increase in nonlocal plants and burning of the heathland that sometimes occurs Although it is locally common at temporary pools in the breeding season it occupies only about 2 of the suitable habitat in its range is known from only two localities and is absent from many areas that seem suitable including some where it was found in the past A disjunct population of Capensibufo rosei was initially discovered on Table Mountain in the year 1927 5 However no activity has been observed for many decades and the current status of this separate population is unknown 6 1 References edit a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group South African Frog Re assessment Group et al SA FRoG 2017 Capensibufo rosei IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T112716154A47759127 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T112716154A47759127 en Retrieved 17 November 2021 Frost Darrel R 2016 Capensibufo rosei Hewitt 1926 Amphibian Species of the World an Online Reference Version 6 0 American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 15 November 2016 a b c d de Villiers A L Zimcus Breda Capensibufo rosei Hewitt 1926 African Amphibians Lifedesk Archived from the original on 2011 04 25 Retrieved 2014 05 28 Manning John 2008 Field Guide to Fynbos Struik Publishers ISBN 9781770072657 Rose Walter 1950 The Reptiles And Amphibians Of Southern Africa 1 ed Cape Town Maskew Miller Limited p 378 Rose 1950 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cape mountain toad amp oldid 1133731047, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
