Megophrys brachykolos | Short-legged Toad

Megophrys brachykolos Inger & Romer, 1961
Short-legged Toad 短腳角蟾

Taxonomy

Order	Anura
Family	Megophryidae
Scientific name	Megophrys brackykolos
Chinese name	短腳角蟾
Common name	Short-legged Toad

Description

Size	4 - 6 cm
Description	A small-sized toad Back brown with a few scattered warts on the smooth skin Chest with two prominent white tubercles Prominent white tubercle present on the inside of each thigh A dark triangular marking is present between the eyes

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat	Streams at 20 - 750 m elevation.
Activity
Behaviour	It is a burrower, but has well-developed adhesion disc on its fore limbs to enable climbing on steep surface. When disturbed, it is able to blow up its body and secrete sticky mucus.
Diet	Earthworms, ants and other insects.

Reproduction

Breeding period	Feburary to August
Mating call	(Please click to play)
Larvae	Brown and elongated. Mouthpart is funnel-shaped.
Egg

Distribution and Conservation

Distribution

Widespread in Hong Kong Island (e.g. Tai Tam Reservoir, Pofulam reservoir, Lung Fu Shan, etc). Rarely found in New Territories (e.g. Mui Tze Lam) and Lantau Island (Ngong Ping).

Eastern Guanxgi, southern Hunan, Hubei, and Guangdong to Hongkong, Lantau Island, and the adjacent mainland peninsula in Fujian, China; nominal allopatric population in northeastern Vietnam (Lang Son and Ha Bac provinces)

This species is once thought to be endemic in Hong Kong. However, more records are found in other locations which suggests a much wider distribution of this species.

Conservation status (IUCN)

Gallery

References
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