Oreophrynella nigra
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Oreophrynella nigra, or pebble toad,[1] is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Guiana Highlands in Bolívar State, Venezuela, and known from two tepuis, Kukenan-tepui and Yuruani-tepui, both belonging to the Eastern Tepuis.[2][3]
Description and behaviour
It is a small species of toad: males measure Script error: No such module "convert". and females Script error: No such module "convert". in snout–vent length.[4]
When threatened, the toad folds its limbs under its body, tucks its head in and tenses in a ball shape. If on an incline (this is how it gets its name), this causes it to roll down the slope, escaping the attention of its predator, and looking like a dislodged pebble. Its cryptic black and dark grey coloring that may appear as dark navy blue to some blends with its sandstone habitat.[1]
Habitat and conservation
Its natural habitats are rocks and peat bogs in montane tepui environments at elevations of Script error: No such module "convert". asl. It is classified as vulnerable because of its apparently restricted range.[2]
Media interest
This toad was featured on a BBC series, Life, pursued by a tarantula spider.[1]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b c Pebble toad's rock and roll life, Matt Walker, BBC, 15 October 2009, Retrieved 6 November 2015
- ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".