Oreophrynella nigra

Description and behaviour

It is a small species of toad: males measure 16.5 - and females 20.4 - in snout–vent length.

When threatened, the toad folds its limbs under its body, tucks its head in and tenses in a ball shape. If on an incline (this is how it gets its name), this causes it to roll down the slope, escaping the attention of its predator, and looking like a dislodged pebble. Its cryptic black and dark grey coloring that may appear as dark navy blue to some blends with its sandstone habitat.

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are rocks and peat bogs in montane tepui environments at elevations of 2300 - asl. It is classified as vulnerable because of its apparently restricted range.

Media interest

This toad was featured on a BBC series, Life, pursued by a tarantula spider.

References

References

1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2020). "''Oreophrynella nigra''".
2. Señaris, J. C.. (1994). "Los sapos de la familia Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura) de las tierras altas de la Guayana Venezolana: Descripción de un nuevo genero y tres especies". Publicaciones de la Asociación de Amigos de Doñana.
3. Frost, Darrel R.. (2015). "''Oreophrynella nigra'' Señaris, Ayarzagüena, and Gorzula, 1994". American Museum of Natural History.
4. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8307000/8307333.stm Pebble toad's rock and roll life], Matt Walker, BBC, 15 October 2009, Retrieved 6 November 2015