Nectophrynoides

Abstract: resentatives of 12 families. The Bufonidae is represented by Bufo, Peltophryne, and Nectophrynoides. In addition, this volume contains facts and folkloric tidbits relating to Dendrobates (Den drobatidae), Alytes (Discoglossidae), Rhinophrynus (Rhinophrynidae), Scaphiopus (Pelobatidae), Pipa (Pipidae), Rhinoderma (Rhinodermatidae), Ascaphus (Ascaphidae), Rheobatrachus (Myobatrachidae), Bombina (Bombinatoridae), Rana (Ranidae), and Gastrophryne (Microhylidae). In fairness to DeGraaff, he does comment that he concentrated on the Bufonidae but includes a few other species that ". . . look like toads and are commonly referred to as toads." The balance of the first part of DeGraaff's volume on the natural history of the toad contains reasonably accurate descriptions of reproductive behavior ("Toad Music & Mating"), overland movement ("Toad Navigation"), feeding ("Toad the Hunter"), and predator

Abstract: A new species of polystomatid monogenean, Eupolystoma anterorchis sp. n. is described from the urinary bladder and kidneys of Bufo pardalis from the Cape Peninsula, Republic of South Africa. It is distinguished from other Eupolystoma species, and from all other species except one within the Polystomatidae, by the anterior pre-ovarian extension of a large proportion of the testis follicles. This and other morphological characteristics are incorporated into an amended generic diagnosis.The morphology of E. alluaudi from Bufo regularis in West Africa is also described. The known range of this species is enlarged with new geographical records in the Cameroun and Ethiopia, and a new host record from Nectophrynoides malcolmi.Material from each area shows that the eggs of Eupolystoma spp. complete development in utero and that all developmental stages of the parasite occur side by side within the same host individual. This represents a significant evolutionary departure from the pattern of transmission typical of Polystoma in most of the other anuran hosts.

Abstract: SUMMARY From a comparison of the skull, vertebral column, pectoral girdle, certain myological and external morphological features and aspects of reproductive biology of Didynamipus sjoestedti Andersson, 1903 (Anura) with other African bufonids it is deduced that the African bufonids belong to at least three evolutionary lineages. One of these comprises Didynamipus, Nectophrynoides, Nectophryne, Werneria, Wolterstoffina, Laurentophryne and two South African species that were until recently referred to Bufo. The characteristics distinguishing this assemblage from the others are stated and a diagnosis of Didynamipus given. For each of 24 characters the evolutionary direction of change is inferred. From an analysis of the derived character states a phylogenetic hypothesis is constructed that suggests that Didynamipus is more closely related to West African Nectophrynoides than to any of the Cameroun genera. Nectophryne is considered the most advanced genus in the assemblage. It is further suggested that the a...

Abstract: We report direct development for toads of the bufonid genus Oreophrynella, endemic to the tepuis of the Guayanan Highlands. Tepui toads place few (9-13), large (-3 mm diameter) eggs in a single or communal terrestrial nest. One communal nest found on Kukenan-tepui contained 102 toads (70 males, 30 females, 2 hatchlings) and 321 eggs in clumps of 8-35. All viable clutches from Kukenan were attended by an adult. One clutch of 13 eggs from Ilu-tepui was without an attendant adult. Calls of Kukenan males consist of 9-16 partially pulsed notes given at a rate of 5-7 notes per second. Calls and notes were modulated and increased or decreased in frequency; dominant frequencies of the calls ranged between 2650-3650 Hz. Tepui toads are diurnal, rock dwellers with a slow, deliberate walking gait. An unusual balling and tumbling behavior and bright colored venter may be associated with predator avoidance in some populations. Remarkable parallels in reproductive ecology and behavior between Oreophrynella and montane populations of the African bufonid Nectophrynoides are noted.