Sclerophrys perreti (formerly Amietophrynus perreti) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Idanre Hills in southwestern Nigeria.[1][2][3] Sclerophrys perreti is one of the frogs declared as "Lost" in 2010.[4] However, it was re-discovered at its type locality in 2013. Before that, it had not been seen—possibly—since 1970, and with certainty, since 1963.[3] Common name Perret's toad has been coined for it.[1][2][3]

Sclerophrys perreti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Sclerophrys
Species:
S. perreti
Binomial name
Sclerophrys perreti
(Schiøtz [fr], 1963)
Synonyms[2]

Bufo perreti Schiøtz, 1963
Amietophrynus perreti (Schiøtz, 1963)

Etymology

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The specific name perreti honours Jean-Luc Perret [fr], a Swiss herpetologist who has specialized in African amphibians.[5][3]

Description

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Males measure 39–40 mm (1.5–1.6 in) and females 55–64 mm (2.2–2.5 in) in snout–vent length. The head is comparatively flat. Males have white throats. Parotoid glands are moderately developed.[3]

The adult frogs live in patches of shrubby vegetation occurring on the inselbergs or gneiss domes in the forest on which it lives.[1] Tadpoles are unusual compared to other Sclerophrys species: they are not aquatic but semi-terrestrial, living in shallow water-films on wet, sometimes nearly vertical rocks.[3]

 
Type locality of Sclerophrys perreti at the outskirts of Idanre, south-western Nigeria.

Habitat and conservation

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Perret's toad is endemic to Nigeria where it is known from a single locality, the Idanre Hill in the southwestern part of the country. Only one population of Sclerophrys perreti is known. Searches in nearby areas have failed to locate other populations in suitable habitat,[3] nevertheless, the toad is common in the location where it is found and the tadpoles plentiful. The area is rocky and inaccessible and the International Union for Conservation of Nature thinks it likely that more populations would be found if more herpetological surveys were done; no particular threats have been recognized.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Sclerophrys perreti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T54732A177148074. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T54732A177148074.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Sclerophrys perreti (Schiøtz, 1963)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Onadeko, Abiodun B.; Rödel, Mark-Oliver; Liedtke, H. Christoph & Barej, Michael (2014). "The rediscovery of Perret's toad, Amietophrynus perreti (Schiøtz, 1963) after more than 40 years, with comments on the species' phylogenetic placement and conservation status". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 90 (2): 113–119. doi:10.3897/zse.90.8234.
  4. ^ "The Search for Lost Frogs". amphibians.org. Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) and Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA). 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  5. ^ Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (22 April 2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-907807-44-2.