Description
Nectoprynoides pseudotornieri is a relatively small forest-restricted toad, restricted to the Uluguru mountains of Tanzania. Morphological descriptions are based primarily on the type specimens and little is known about morphological variation. The adult male holotype measures 25 mm (snout-urostyle length) with the female paratype being slightly larger, measuring 29 mm (snout-urostyle length) (Menegon et al. 2004). This is a slender toad with a short snout and prominently protruding eyes that are visible when viewing the head from below (Channing and Howell 2006). Pupils are horizontal. This species lacks a visible tympanum. Paratoid glands are present on the scapular region, but are small (shorter than diameter of the eye) and only slightly raised. The dorsal skin is not smooth with regular coni, but it lacks pointed tubercles and has no distinct glands. Nectophrynoides pseudotornieri has slender limbs with webbing only at the base of fingers (reaching the second tubercle of the third finger) and toes (reaching the second tubercle of third, fourth and fifth toe). Toe tips are rounded, with finger tips slight expanded.

This species most resembles N. tornieri and to a lesser extent N. minutus, but N. pseudotornieri is larger, and distinguishable from both by the lack of a visible tympanum (Menegon et al. 2004).

In life, the dorsal base color is usually brown of various shades (from quite light to quite dark) overlayed with irregular, darker markings. In some individuals, the flanks are lighter in color, separated by an irregular darker lateral stripe. The underside is lighter in color, usually creamy, with some speckling on the throat and limbs. In preservative, the species coloration is similar as in life (Menegon et al. 2004).

Little is known about sexual dimorphism, although females are expected to be larger in size (Menegon et al. 2004).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Tanzania, United Republic of

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (3 records).

This species is a forest specialist, restricted to the Uluguru North Forest Reserve, on the easter side of the Northern Uluguru Mountains, located in central Tanzania. Individuals have been documented between 1080 - 2100 masl (Harper et al. 2010; Christopher et al. 2023).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Very little is known about the life history of these toads. Females have been observed carrying developing embryos in the uterus (personal observation, H. C. Liedtke), and so it is very likely that this species is live-bearing (ovoviviparous), like other species in this genus. Other Nectophrynoides species give birth to fully formed toadlets. Gravid females were seen in January, towards the end of the shorter rainy season in Tanzania.

Larva
This species is viviparous and does not have free-living larvae (personal observation, H. C. Liedtke). Females therefore likely give birth to fully-formed metamorphs.

Trends and Threats
Very little is known about the population trends of this species. Its geographic range is highly restricted, but falls entirely inside the regionally protected areas of forests of the Uluguru mountains (Harper et al. 2010). Despite this official protection, illegal panning for minerals (gold) is known to occur, along with associated human activity. Its highly restricted, submontane range, means that impacted by human activities in or around its habitat may have severe consequences to the species as a whole (personal comm., H. C. Liedtke).

Comments
Bayesian analysis of 12S, 16S, CO1, and ND2 mtDNA and CXCR4, NCX1, and RAG1 nDNA by Liedtke et al. (2017) identifies this species as sister to N. minutus.

References
Channing, A., and Howell, K. M. (2006). Amphibians of East Africa. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

Christopher, J. M., Ngalason, W., and Lyakurwa, J. V. (2023). Ecological correlates for endemic and threatened amphibians in the Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science, 49(4), 859-870. [link] Harper E.B., Measey G.J., Patrick D.A., Menegon M. and Vonesh JR. (2010). Field Guide to Amphibians of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya: Camerapix Publishers International.

Liedtke H.C., Müller H., Hafner J., Penner J., Gower D.J., Mazuch T., Rödel M.O. and Loader SP. (2017). Terrestrial reproduction as an adaptation to steep terrain in African toads. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284, 20162598–9. [link]

Menegon M., Salvidio S. and Loader S.P. (2004). Five new species of Nectophrynoides Noble 1926 (Amphibia Anura Bufonidae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Tropical Zoology, 17, 97–121. [link]

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2024 Nectophrynoides pseudotornieri: Pseudo Forest Toad or False Tornier's Viviparous Toad <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6334> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Dec 26, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 26 Dec 2024.

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