Clown toads

[matthew]

I've recently seen an advert for clown toads.
***If*** I were to find the time and the room... I might wonder if anyone has any experience or knowledge of this species...?

 

[han]

Melanophryniscus stelzneri? (bumblebee toad or walking toad?)

 

[matthew]

Well Han - thanks for the reply - this question is one that's got me foxed.
Is it the case that

a) there is a small bumblebee toad (stelzneri)AND a larger different species called the clown (walking)toad; or

b) are clowns and bumblebees different names for the same species.

My vote is for the first one but I'm not so sure now.


Seeking enlightenment,
Matthew

 

[mike]

The animals that are for sale in the UK at the moment are M.stelzneri, they were imported from Paraquay, and are "marketed" as yellow & black walking toads, bumblebee toads, pampus toads, red-bellied toads, to name a few.

See Seth Doty's care sheet at http://www.amphibiancare.com/frogs/caresheets/bumblebeewalkingtoad.html
My toads after one month with me are still quite toxic.

 

[han]

Matthew
I would vote for the second option.
Once mis-classified as Atelopus stelzneri,the toads are re-classified as being a genus: Melanophryniscus. There seem to be at least some 14 species aggregated into 4 specie-groups: stelzneri group, rubiventris group, moreirae group and the tumifrons group.(Acta Zoologica 84: 145-154 (2003)).
Stelzneri has yellow dorsal blotches and dots, yellow bandages on the upper front-legs and bigger yellow blotches on the shoulders.
The ventral region shows a black netting on a red or orange background; throat is deepblack, finger-and toe-tips are red. Genderdetermination by size:
females up to 30 mm, males up to 20-25 mm.
Other species differ in ventral coloration.
All are found in pampa-like arid and rocky habitats: cool and rather dry environments up to 1600 m. Stelzneri has even been found during occasional early morning snowfall in Northern Argentina. A hardy one, ain't it.
I find stelzneri easy to keep/ breed when given the environment they need. Raising the tiny toadlets is another story.

Han.

 

[alan]

Err, I wonder how you know they are still toxic Mike? Been using your blowpipe on the local squirrels again?

 

[mike]

No Alan, my resident Snowy owls keep the small furry animals at bay.
I was referring to an incident the other night when moving my toads to their new quarters. I hadn't noticed a small cut on my hand, which became very painful immediately after handling the beasts. In fact my index finger became swollen, and throbbed for 48 hours.
Hmm, nows there's an idea........it sure puts viagra to shame.

 

[matthew]

Thanks for the enlightenment. I'm off to see what the vendor has to say for himself.

My brain is still trying to convince itself that there is a very small bumblebee and a big "walking" "clown" but I think reality is beginning to intrude now.

Cheers again.

 

[alan]

In all seriousness Mike, it pays to be very careful with wc Dendrobates and similar animals such as Melanophryniscus. Wear gloves - we don't want to lose you!
CB no problem because they don't acquire alkaloids from a diet of wild insects, but it can take months for wc animals to lose toxicity because metabolism of alkaloids in the skin is slow.

 

[matthew]

Re the original ad that sparked this thread... the vendor says they are bumblebees; that there are two subspecies (the source of my confusion); and that the ones on offer are the larger of those two subspecies.
Great link Mike - thanks - very surprised to read that "technically" they are frogs!


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