Blomberg's toad

Blomberg's toad
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Bufonidae
Genus:	Rhaebo
Species:	R. blombergi
Binomial name
Rhaebo blombergi (Myers and Funkhouser, 1951)
Synonyms
Bufo blombergi Myers and Funkhouser, 1951

Blomberg's toad (Rhaebo blombergi), also known as the Colombian giant toad, is a very large species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in rainforests at altitudes between 200 and 650 metres (660 and 2,130 ft) in western Colombia (Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and Nariño Departments) and northwestern Ecuador (Carchi, Esmeraldas, and Imbabura Provinces).[1][2][3][4] It has been recorded in Florida in 1963, apparently because of pet escape or release, but did not get established.[5]

Etymology

This species epithet commemorates Swedish explorer Rolf Blomberg who collected the type series.[4]

Description

Rhaebo blombergi is one of the world's largest toads: males measure 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) and females 17–25 cm (6.7–9.8 in) in snout–to–vent length.[4][6]

Life history

Fecundity of captive individuals has been 15,000–80,000 eggs of 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) in diameter. Captive individuals have an average lifespan of ten years, with the maximum reported age of 28 years.[4]

Habitat and conservation

Rhaebo blombergi inhabit closed lowland tropical rainforest. They breed in pools, both temporary and permanent. It is locally common but considered near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because of habitat loss and pollution. It is also collected for pet trade.[1]

References

1. Wilmar Bolívar, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Diego Cisneros-Heredia (2004). "Rhaebo blombergi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T54590A11157227. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54590A11157227.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
2. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Rhaebo blombergi (Myers and Funkhouser, 1951)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
3. Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2015). "Rhaebo blombergi (Myers & Funkhouser, 1951)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.05.2015. www.batrachia.com. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
4. Coloma, L. A. & Hoogmoed, M. S. (2014). "Rhaebo blombergi". Anfibios de Ecuador. Centro Jambatu, Fundación Otonga. Quito, Ecuador. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
5. "Rhaebo blombergi". USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Revision Date: 11/6/2003. United States Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL. 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
6. Coloma, L.A.; C. Frenkel; G. Pazmiño-Armijos (16 August 2018). S.R. Ron (ed.). "Rhaebo blombergi". AmphibiaWeb, University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 24 January 2020.