ANIMALS - AMPHIBIANS - FROGS - SAN MARTIN REDBELLY TOAD (MELANOPHRYNISCUS SANMARTINI)

Animals - Amphibians - Frogs

San Martin Redbelly Toad (Melanophryniscus sanmartini)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Amphibia
Order : Anura
Family : Bufonidae
Genus :Melanophryniscus
Species : M. Sanmartini

Description:

The San Martin redbelly toad (Melanophryniscus sanmartini) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Uruguay and southernmost Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). Its natural habitats are grasslands and rocky outcrops. Reproduction takes place in small streams. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by exotic tree plantations.

Known only from three localities in Uruguay the type locality (Departamento Lavalleja), the Cerro de Animas (Departamento de Maldonado) and Departamento de Rivera, Uruguay; also reported from Pedras Altas and Pinheiro Machado, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Female: 23-26 mm, Male: 19-22 mm. Dorsum dark brown (generally with light brown blotches). Belly and chest black with ocher blotches and a conspicuous reddish orange band under the thighs. Throat and gular region uniformly black, with a light spot on the chin.

These toads are explosive breeders (after heavy rains), and reproductive activity takes place between April to November.

Binomial Name:

Name : Melanophryniscus sanmartini
Taxonomist : Miguel Angel Klappenbach (Dolores - Uruguay)
Year : 1968
Subspecies : None, or not data available
Synonyms : None, or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Near-threatened species

A Near-threatened speciesis a species which has been categorized as "Near Threatened" (NT)by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. The IUCN notes the importance of re-evaluating near-threatened taxa at appropriate intervals.

Philatelic Issues

2014 – Uruguay - Stamp 1 of 2, from Tourist Sites:Lavalleja Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: November 5th, 2014
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 2 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 27 mm. x 39 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated