Smooth Forest Toad

general

This species is named for the Latin 'laevis' meaning smooth and referring to the skin surface.

African Amphibians

morphology

This is a medium sized Nectophrynoides , with relatively short limbs. The SUL/hindlimb ratio is 1.20. Tips of fingers are rounded and expanded. Length of foot is greater than length of tibia. Tympanum and tympanic annulus is absent. No webbing is present on hands. Main webbing on foot reaches the median subarticular tubercle of the fourth toe. Parotoid glands are present in the scapular region as a raised and easily discernible structure. The parotoid gland is twice as long as wide, and longer than the eye. The dorsal ground colour is pale grey with scattered and irregular dark brown to black blotches. A thin, interrupted vertebral line is present. Belly whitish with a thin dark line running from the chin to the vent and on the inner side of upper limbs, absent from hands and feet. At present the holotype is the only known representative of this species. The morphological variation in this species is therefore completely unknown and deserves further research (Menegon et al., 2004).

African Amphibians

conservation

The IUCN Red List (2010) categorizes this species as Data Deficient since it has only recently been discovered, and there is still very little information on its extent of occurrence, status and ecological requirements (Menegon and Loader, 2004).

African Amphibians

management

Uluguru South Forest Reserve is the only protected area that this species is known from so far, but this area is not generally managed for biodiversity conservation (Menegon and Loader, 2004).

African Amphibians