Tanzaniaherps.org
The herpetofauna of Mountains of Tanzania
Nectophrynoides laticeps , Channing, Menegon, Salvidio, and Akker, 2005
IUCN: ENDANGERED (EN)
Adult specimen of N. laticeps in its habitat.
type
Holotype: MTSN 5640, Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy.type locality
Mamiwa-Kisara Forest Reserve, 1850 m, 06° 22′ 48″ S, 36° 56′ 02″ E. This is situated in the Ukaguru Mountains, Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, TanzaniaGEOGRAPHIC RANGE
recorded localities
Ukaguru, Mamiwa Kisara North,
Habitat and Ecology
The species lives in leaf litter on the floor on montane forest. It has not been found outside forest habitats. It is presumably a live-bearing species with internal fertilization, like other members of its genus.
THREATS
Major Threats
Conservation measures
It occurs in the Mamiwa-Kisara Forest Reserve. The extent of its distribution within the Ukaguru Mountains needs to be assessed. It is listed on CITES Appendix I.ID
Description and Diagnosis
A small frog (SVL < 24mm) with slender limbs. The tympanum is visible, but not distinct. It is smaller than ½ the diameter of the eye. The dorsum is brown with raised bumps. The sides are slightly darker, but there are no distinct markings on the dorsum or sides. There is a light band that runs from the eye to the corner of the mouth. Toe and finger tips are rounded and not expanded. Toes and fingers lack webbing.
Call and Calling bahaviour
Described by Channing et al. (2005) as “a whistle followed by a short chirp, although later in the year only the chirp is produced.”
mp3 of the call
sonagram of the call
Similar species
N. paulae and N. tornieri also occur in the Ukaguru Mountains, but N. laticeps lacks the conical dorsal spines of N. paulae and has rounded finger tips unlike the truncate finger tips of N. tornieri.
DATA SOURCES
Data providers
Selected Bibliography
(2005). A new forest toad from the Ukaguru mountains, Tanzania (Bufonidae : Nectophrynoides). African Journal of Herpetology. 54: 149-157.
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.
Menegon, M. and S. Loader. 2008. Nectophrynoides laticeps. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 August 2010.