Paula's Viviparous Toad

general

The species was named for Paola Magagnato, a natural sciences teacher.

African Amphibians

morphology

Tympanum and tympanic annulus are present and clearly visible. Parotoid glands are absent. Snout is short. Nostrils are much closer to the snout tip than eyes, which prominent and visible ventrally. Canthus rostralis is concave. Tips of fingers and toes are rounded, not or slightly expanded, never truncated. Pupil is horizontal. The foot length is greater than or equal to length of tibia. Hands are not webbed, while fingers are only webbed at their base. The two distal phalanges of the fifth toe are free of main webbing, the three distal phalanges of fourth toe are free of main webbing on both sides. The upper lips often show dark markings on a paler background colour. Prominent, large conical shaped spines cover the head, eyelids, dorsum and hindlimbs. These spines are conical in shape and end with a conspicuous clear keratinized horny tip. A set of six spines, often larger than others, are arranged symmetrically on the region of the head and shoulder. Spines often are concentrated also on the anterior part of the head, dorsum, sacral region and limbs (Menegon et al., 2007). Colour pattern in life: the dorsal surface of the body and limbs is uniform brown, a broad cream vertebra

African Amphibians

conservation

The IUCN Red List (2010) categorizes this species as Critically Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 100 km2, all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat in the Ukaguru Mountains (Menegon and Loader, 2008).

African Amphibians

management

It occurs in the Mamiwa-Kisara North Forest Reserve. The extent of its distribution within the Ukaguru Mountains needs to be assessed (Menegon and Loader, 2008).

African Amphibians