ANIMALS – AMPHIBIANS – FROGS – ROCOCO TOAD (RHINELLA SCHNEIDERI)

Animals - Amphibians - Frogs

Rococo toad (Rhinella schneideri)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Amphibia
Order : Anura
Family :Bufonidae
Genus : Rhinella
Species : R. Schneideri

Description:

The Rococo Toad(Rhinella schneideri), sometimes referred to as Schneider's Toad, is a large toad native to the South America countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is frequently mistaken for the Cane Toad, and gets nearly as large. The easiest way to distinguish the two species, is that R. schneideri has poison glands on its back legs, as well as on either side of its head, as other toads.

Binomial Name:

Name : Rhinella schneideri
Taxonomist : Franz Werner (Vienna - Austria)
Year : 1894
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : Chaunus schneideri, Bufo paracnemis, Bufo schneideri

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status :Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 4 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

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

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

ANIMALS - AMPHIBIANS - FROGS - DARWIN'S TOAD (MELANOPHRYNISCUS MONTEVIDENSIS)

Animals - Amphibians - Frogs

Darwin's Toad (Melanophryniscus montevidensis)

Scientific Classification:

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

Description:

The Darwin's Toad(Melanophryniscus montevidensis) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Brazil and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are temperate shrubland, intermittent freshwater marshes, and sandy shores. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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.

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).

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).

Binomial Name:

Name : Melanophryniscus montevidensis
Taxonomist : Rudolph Amandus Philippi (Germany)
Year : 1902
Subspecies : None, or not data available
Synonyms : Melanophryniscus stelzneri, Montevidensis gallardo

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Vulnerable

A Vulnerable species is one which has been categorised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve.

Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction. Vulnerable habitat or species are monitored and can become increasingly threatened. Some species listed as "vulnerable" may be common in captivity.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 10 of 10, from Wetland Animals Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: June 5th, 2015
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 10 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

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