''Pelophryne saravacensis'', also known as Sarawak dwarf toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Borneo and only known from Sarawak ( East Malaysia); there are records from at least four localities representing three different divisions ( Bintulu, Miri, and Kapit).

Description

Adult males measure and adult females in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the most c ...

. The overall appearance is slender. The head is as wide as the body. The snout is truncate with a median projection. The tympanum is visible, oval in shape. Both the fingers and toes have fleshy webbing. The finger and toe tips bear discs (the latter being smaller than the former). The dorsum and flanks bear large, round tubercles. The belly is coarsely granular. Preserved specimens have sandy brown to pale tan dorsal coloration. There is a backward pointing dark interorbital triangle, and in some individuals, a faint dark triangle or trapezoid in the lumbar region. The ventral surfaces are dark brown with small, discrete, white spots. In living individuals, small red spots are often present on the larger dorsal tubercles.

Habitat and conservation

''Pelophryne saravacensis'' inhabits lowland and submontane forests. Males call from understory vegetation and trunks of small trees as high as above the ground, but preferably above the ground. Other aspects of its breeding biology remain unknown, but it probably breeds in streams, as is the case for other ''Pelophryne''. The habitat of this species is threatened by logging, leading to a decline in both its extent and quality. Consequently, it is suspected that the overall population of ''Pelophryne saravacensis'' is declining. It is present in the

Gunung Mulu Mount Mulu ( ms, Gunung Mulu) is a sandstone and shale mountain. At 2376 m, it is the second highest mountain in the state of Sarawak, after Mount Murud. It is located within the boundaries of Gunung Mulu National Park, which is named after ...

and Pulong Tau National Parks; while the former is well protected, the latter is not and faces encroachment from logging companies.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3374522 saravacensis Amphibians of Borneo Amphibians of Malaysia Endemic fauna of Borneo Endemic fauna of Malaysia Amphibians described in 2009 Taxa named by Robert F. Inger