
Snouted Toad
Rhinella proboscidea
Rhinella proboscidea is a species of small South American toads in the family Bufonidae, common in the Amazon rainforest. It is the only species known to practice reproductive necrophilia.
From the article Rhinella proboscidea on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
Males are 46–54 mm with smooth skin, while females are 46–55 mm with granular skin. The dorsal surface is reddish or dark brown, and typically spattered with black and brown patches. It has a triangular head with a pointed snout, and a brown to gray belly. This toad is mostly active during the day, sleeping on small seedlings and shrubs at night, but shows nocturnal activity during the breeding period. Its tadpoles are light brown and similar to other R. margaritifera tadpoles. The skin is highly toxic, but predation by a snake (Xenoxybelis argenteus) has nonetheless been observed. This species is an explosive breeder that reproduces in shallow pools off the edge of streams. The toads gather in these locations for two or three days, where they collectively fertilize thousands of eggs. A typical reproductive period is from March to May, but it could vary depending on rainfall. After heavy rain, choruses of as many as 100 male R. proboscidea calling for a mate have been heard. Males breed aggressively, approaching any nearby toad and attempting to steal mates from other males already in amplexus. These struggles sometimes result in the female being suffocated. The dead females may be subjected to necrophilia. Males use their front and hind limbs to squeeze the sides of the corpse's belly until oocytes are ejected. The oocytes are then fertilized. …
Wikipedia: “Characteristics”
Range & habitat
This toad is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is common in parts of the Amazon rainforest.
Wikipedia: “Distribution”
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Every page naming Rhinella proboscidea in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 67138.