Description
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İngilizce
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Female: 22-28 mm, Male: 19-24 mm. Dorsum black, generally with small yellow blotches along the flanks. Belly and chest black with red blotches and/or yellow spots. Interdigital web poorly developed. Sexual dimorphism is not evident. This species could be easily confused with Melanophryniscus atroluteus.
- Garrido-Yrigaray, R. R. (1989). ''Descripción de la larva de Melanophrynsicus stelzneri montevidensis (Philippi, 1902) (Anura: Bufonidae).'' Boletín de la Sociedad Zoológica del Uruguay (2a. Época), 5, 1-8.
- Klappenbach, M. A., and Miranda, O. B. (1969). Anfibios y Reptiles. Nuestra Tierra, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Maneyro, R., and Achaval, F. (2004). ''Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Darwin’s Toad). Albino Larvae.'' Herpetological Review, 35(3), 261.
- Mebs, D., Pogoda, W., Maneyro, R. and Kwet, A (2005). ''Studies on the poisonous secretion of individual red bellied toads, Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura, Bufonidae), from Uruguay.'' Toxicon, 46, 641-650.
- Prigioni, C., and Garrido, R. R. (1989). ''Algunas observaciones sobre la reproducción de Melanophryniscus stelzneri montevidensis (Anura, Bufonidae).'' Boletín de la Sociedad Zoológica del Uruguay (Actas de las II Jornadas de Zoología del Uruguay), 5, 13-14.
Distribution and Habitat
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İngilizce
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The species inhabits coastal areas with dunes and sandy soils in the Uruguayan Atlantic shore region. Mainly southern Uruguay (only one locality known in Southern Brazil).
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
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İngilizce
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AmphibiaWeb articles tarafından sağlandı
The diet of this toad consists of small arthropods (little beetles, collembolans, aphids, ants, acari). These diurnal toads are explosive breeders. Reproduction occurs during warm days following rains. As in most of the species belonging to this genus, the nuptial call has two components (a repeated whistle and a train of vibrations). During amplexus males massage females; oviposition is made in several inmersions. This species exhibits a defensive behavior named "Unkenreflex" (it shows the red belly, palms and soils to the attacker). The skin of these toads have alkaloids (like pumiliotoxins).
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
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İngilizce
)
AmphibiaWeb articles tarafından sağlandı
M. atroluteus is a declining species in Uruguay. Malformed specimens and albino larvae have been reported. Habitat loss seems to be the main cause of declines.
