Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5
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Family : BUFONIDAE
Species : Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Size (snout to vent) :
Females 11.5 cm, males 8.5 cm.
Play call
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One of the commonest of
true toads in Southeast Asia, it occurs in a variety of habitats in both
rural and urban areas.
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Top :
the tadpoles are small in size and black ventrally.
Middle : the ventral side is pale.
Bottom : close-up of the mouthparts |
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At night it can easily be
found on grass lawns, and on paths and roads. Concretised drains are also a
favoured habitat, and the species can withstand brackish water.
There is considerable
colour variation, but the species is easily identified by the presence of
pronounced paratoid glands (a raised ridge behind the eye) and the lines of
warts along the back and sides.
This is a widespread species. As a native it occurs in the Indian
subcontinent (including parts of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka),
southern China (including Hong Kong, Taiwan) throughout all countries of
mainland Southeast Asia, and offshore to the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and
Java. The species has been introduced to many islands further east including
at least Bali, and various localities in Sulawesi, Timor-Leste and New
Guinea.
Fig 1 : Specimen found at the base of a limestone cliff near sea level,
at Cat Ba Island, Vietnam.
Fig 2 : Mating pair 'in amplexus', Singapore.
Fig 3 : Specimen from freshwater swamp habitat, Sedili Besar, Johor,
Peninsular Malaysia.
Fig 4 : Pale grey specimen at Sungei Buloh, Singapore.
Fig 5 : Brightly coloured specimen at Siem Reap, Cambodia.
References :
Lim, K.P., Lim, L.K.,1992. A Guide to the Amphibians & Reptiles of
Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
Manthey U., Grossmann W., 1997. Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens.
Natur und Tier - Verlag.
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