Rhinella acrolopha, also known as Cerro Mali beaked toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the Serranía del Darién in eastern Panama (including the Darién National Park) and in the immediately adjacent northwestern Colombia, in the Los Katíos National Park.[3][4] The specific name acrolopha is derived from the Greek akrolophos, meaning crest of a mountain or ridge, and refers to the isolated occurrence of this species at high elevations in the Serranía del Darién.[2] However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) characterizes it as a lowland species.[1]

Rhinella acrolopha
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Rhinella
Species:
R. acrolopha
Binomial name
Rhinella acrolopha
(Trueb [fr], 1971)
Cerro Malí in extreme eastern Panama
Cerro Malí in extreme eastern Panama
Rhinella acrolopha is known from the vicinity of Cerro Malí in the Serranía del Darién of eastern Panama and adjacent Colombia
Synonyms[3]

Rhamphophryne acrolopha Trueb, 1971[2]

Description edit

Males can grow to 38 mm (1.5 in) and adult to 45 mm (1.8 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is acuminate in dorsal aspect and long, directed anteroventrally, and terminally truncate in lateral aspect. Tympanum is absent. The supraorbital, postorbital, and supratympanic crests are present, while the pretympanic crest is variable in occurrence and the occipital crest is present but indistinct. The fingers have rudiments of webbing. The toes are partially webbed. Dorsal coloration varies from yellowish tan to reddish and dark brown. Some individuals have a partial or complete vertebral stripe. The iris is bronze with black reticulations.[2]

Habitat and conservation edit

Rhinella acrolopha occurs in humid lowland and lower montane forests to elevations of about 1,400 m (4,600 ft) above sea level,[1] although the original species description indicated its altitudinal range as 1,265–1,481 m (4,150–4,859 ft).[2] It is a terrestrial species. The known populations are within protected areas, outside of which it would probably be threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural development, cultivation of illegal crops (pollution from spraying them), logging, and human settlement.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Rhinella acrolopha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T54875A54342343. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T54875A54342343.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Trueb, Linda (1971). "Phylogenetic relationships of certain neotropical toads with the description of a new genus (Anura: Bufonidae)". Contributions in Science. 216. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: 1–40.
  3. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Rhinella acrolopha (Trueb, 1971)". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2020). "Rhinella acrolopha (Trueb, 1971)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia: Referencia en linea V.10.2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.