Oreophrynella quelchii

Oreophrynella quelchii

Oreophrynella quelchii is a South American species of toad in the genus Oreophrynella. In German, it is sometimes referred to as Scheinkrötchen. The species is named after the British zoologist John Joseph Quelch (1854 -? ) Named.

Description

The body is 22 millimeters long and black. The throat and belly are pale yellow flecks and marbling. The top is covered with prominent warts of different sizes, the bottom with smaller, flatter warts. The muzzle is short, rounded and not prominent. The canthus is pronounced. The interorbital space is as wide as the upper eyelids. The fingers are very short and connected to the base by thick skin. They are slightly swollen at the end. The first, second and fourth fingers are of equal length, the third is the longest. The toes are also very short and connected to the base. The first and fifth are equal, the fourth is a bit longer and the second and third are the shortest. Palms and soles are warty, the carpal and tarsal tubercles are fairly flat. The metatarsodigitale joint reaches the eye. Males have no vocal sac.

Occurrence and life

Oreophrynella quelchii occur exclusively on the Roraima Tepui and the Wei - Assipo - tepui. She was found at altitudes from 2300 to 2800 meters above the sea.

The Scheinkrötchen is diurnal and can be found on open rock surfaces in the upper montane stage. The type is a direct development in the eggs instead without tadpole stage.