Pumpkin toadlet
Yellow saddle toad ( Brachycephalus ephippium )
The Yellow saddle toad ( Brachycephalus ephippium ) is a native to Brazil Species from the family of the saddle toads ( Brachycephalidae ). There are tiny frogs and toads of striking yellow color. They have a potent skin toxin called tetrodotoxin. In English means the way because of their coloring " Pumpkin Toadlet " ( = Kürbiskrötchen ).
Features
This type reaches a head-body length of just 12.5 to 19.7 mm. The fingers and toes are reduced to three on each limb and shortens. The hind legs are quite short. On the back, a saddle-shaped bone plate is located under the skin. The animals are consistently colored bright yellow to orange. The Eye Iris is black.
Occurrence and life
Yellow saddle toads inhabit the Atlantic coastal forests of southeast Brazil ( from sea level up to 1200 m ), where they live in the leaf litter layer on the ground. As a dietary used small insects and other invertebrates such as springtails and mites. In dry periods, the animals hide deeper in the leaf litter.
During the rainy season the reproduction takes place; while the males show a territorial behavior. Discover a conspecific, they express calls and move one arm up and down. If it is at the opposite to another male, there will be a wrestling match and the rival is pushed away. As mating calls are continuous Rufserien from two to six minutes in length. When you call the animals depend on all fours.
Do they have a female attracted, this is taken initially one inguinal amplexus takes place. Then the male slipped on the back of the female further forward ( axillary amplexus ). The female is looking for a suitable oviposition site between leaves or dead wood, and finally sets over a period of half an hour up to five fairly large, yellowish-white eggs that are fertilized by the male while. When the male has left the nesting beach, rolling the female the eggs with the help of his feet so that adheres to this earth. In order for the eggs to be camouflaged from predators. So they are finally left to themselves.
There will be no aquatiles tadpole stage, but a direct development. The eggs hatch in about two months, fully developed young toads - they still have a rudimentary tail on. Saddle toads need therefore, unlike the majority of amphibians, no water for their propagation.
Swell
- Style portrait to Brachycephalus ephippium at AmphibiaWeb ( Engl )