The sand toad, Cape sand toad, common Cape toad, or narrow-headed toad (''Vandijkophrynus angusticeps'') is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae (true toads). It is endemic to South Africa and found in southwestern and southern part of Western Cape Province to extreme southwestern Eastern Cape Province, from

Nieuwoudtville Nieuwoudtville is a town in Namakwa District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town lies on the Bokkeveld Escarpment, and was established in 1897. The Nieuwoudtville Falls on the Doring River are located a few kil ...

in the west to Humansdorp in the east, along the coastal flats and Cape Fold Mountains from the sea level to

asl American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is express ...

Description

Sand toads are morphologically similar to other ''Vandijkophrynus'' species, but can usually be distinguished by their unspotted white ventrum and bright yellow flush over the dorsal surfaces of their feet.

Reproduction

Sand toads may emerge from their refuges to breed in winter, May–September, when heavy rains have saturated the soil and created pools lasting for many weeks. They breed in temporary depressions in sandy areas, and also in clay soils. Males call on exposed sites near the water's edge. Testes are unusually large, suggesting intense male-male competition.

Habitat and conservation

Sand toads inhabit

fynbos Fynbos (; meaning fine plants) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean clim ...

heathland. They can sometimes also survive in agricultural areas. The species is threatened by habitat loss and deterioration caused by coastal development, alien plants, and wetland drainage for urbanization and agriculture. It has disappeared from some areas, but is believed to be stable and common through most of its range.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1390756 Vandijkophrynus Frogs of Africa Endemic amphibians of South Africa Taxa named by Andrew Smith (zoologist) Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians described in 1848