[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Primary navigation

Taxonomy

Diagnostic description 
  • A small-sized species 
    •    largest female in type series 20.3mm, 
    •    largest male17.1mm 
  • Tips of fingers and toes rounded, not expanded.
  • Length of foot greater than length of tibia.
  • Webbing relatively extensive [in comparison with other Nectophrynoides species], reaching middle tubercle of fourth toe and tubercle of second finger.
  • Dorsal ground colour yellow to mustard yellow; paired dark brown dorsolateral bands run from otic region or above arm insertion to near leg insertion.
  • Variable dark brown, becoming indistinct in adults.
  • No dark ventral markings.
  • Snout-urostyle length] lacking tympanum and parotid glands.

( annotations not included in original description )

Readily distinguished from other Nectophryrnoides toads lookalikes by its 

  • general appearance
  • distinctive yellow colour in life and the 
  • pair of mid to dark brown dorsolateral bands.
  • overall head shape 

In the Kihansi toad the snout is short truncate (slightly rounded in lateral view), the nostrils are closer to the tip of the snout than to the eye, there are flaps over the nostrils - ‘possibly to keep out the spray’ (Krajick 2006) and the pupils to the eyes are horizontally elliptical.

Morphology
  • The morphological data is in the original description.
  • This species is presently classified as extinct in the wild and its conservation and breeding in two zoos in the United States has greatest priority
  • Any further studies on the type specimens must be limited to non-invasive, non-destructive investigations.
  • Lookalikes

    Learn what makes the Kihansi spray toad easy to identify from other Nectophryrnoides toads.

  • Evolution

    Find out why the evolutionary background of Nectophrynoides wendyae needs to be readdressed.

  • Genetics

    Read about the genetic factors that may affect breeding programmes for the species and why the history of the Kihansi spray toad suggests these factors might not cause much of a problem.

Print version