Mr Burns beaked toad (Rhinella sp. nov.)

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Mr Burns beaked toad was first discovered in the cloud forests of western Colombia in 2010.
The colouration and shape of Mr Burns beaked toad offer it camouflage against the dead leaves on which it lives.
Mr Burns beaked toad is beautifully decorated with orange speckles and blue wavy lines.
The long, pointy, nose-like snout of Mr Burns beaked toad gives it a resemblance to the Simpsons television series character Mr Burns, hence its common name.

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Mr Burns beaked toad fact file

Description
Biology
Range
Habitat
Status
Threats
Conservation
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Glossary
References
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Mr Burns beaked toad description

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Amphibia
Order	Anura
Family	Bufonidae
Genus	Rhinella ⁽¹⁾

The tiny Mr Burns beaked toad (Rhinella sp. nov.) was first discovered by an expedition of scientists from Conservation International and other organisations in 2010, and was named for its unusually long, nose-like snout. This bizarre appendage gives Mr Burns beaked toad a resemblance to the Simpsons television series character Mr Burns, earning the small amphibian its comical common name ⁽¹⁾.

This beautiful, newly discovered frog is speckled with orange dots and blue wavy lines ⁽²⁾.The colouration and long snout of Mr Burns beaked toad help disguise it against the dead leaf litter on which it lives ⁽¹⁾, and its small size also makes it less visible to predators ⁽³⁾.

Also known as: beaked toad.

Size: Length: c. 2 cm ⁽¹⁾

Related species

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Mr Burns beaked toad biology

There is currently no information available on the biology of Mr Burns beaked toad. However, it is believed to lay its eggs on the forest floor, and the eggs are thought to hatch directly into toadlets, thereby skipping the tadpole stage. This behaviour is quite unusual among toad species ⁽¹⁾.

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Mr Burns beaked toad range

Mr Burns beaked toad was discovered in the Chocó region of western Colombia ⁽²⁾.

Species with a similar range

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Mr Burns beaked toad habitat

The Chocó region of western Colombia where Mr Burns beaked toad was found is mountainous, and covered with thick, intact and unexplored rainforest ⁽⁴⁾.

Species found in a similar habitat

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Mr Burns beaked toad status

Mr Burns beaked toad is not yet classified on the IUCN Red List.

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Mr Burns beaked toad threats

No specific threats to Mr Burns beaked toad are currently known. However, Colombia’s frogs are valued highly by collectors for their striking appearance, as well as for their potential in the pharmaceutical industry. Chemicals in the skin of many amphibians are being studied for potential cures to many human diseases, such as cancer and HIV ⁽⁵⁾.

It is predicted that the gold mining industry could soon take a greater interest in Colombia. If this were to happen, areas such as Chocó that are becoming safer to visit due to a crackdown on rebel groups could become threatened by habitat exploitation and destruction. Thousands of species within the region could also be extinguished ⁽⁵⁾.

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Mr Burns beaked toad conservation

Organisation Fundación ProAves is aiming to purchase private land in the Chocó region from farmers, in order to establish guarded amphibian reserves to protect species such as Mr Burns beaked toad ⁽⁵⁾. No other specific conservation measures are currently known to be in place for Mr Burns beaked toad.

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Find out more

Find out more about Mr Burns beaked toad and about the scientific expedition to Colombia:

Conservation International - Lost frogs of Colombia:
http://www.conservation.org/FMG/Articles/Pages/search_lost_frogs_colombia_robin_moore.aspx
Conservation International - Three new amphibian species discovered in Colombia:
http://blog.conservation.org/2010/11/lost-frogs-update-three-new-species-discovered-in-colombia/
The Telegraph - Zoologist and journalist Lucy Cooke’s expedition blog:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8140419/In-search-of-the-lost-frog-of-Colombia.html

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Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

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References

Conservation International (2010) Search for ‘lost’ frogs leads to three new amphibian treasures. Conservation International Press Releases, 15 November. Available at:
http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/New_Frogs_Colombia.aspx
Moore, R. (2010) Lost frogs update: three new species discovered in Colombia. Conservation International Blog, 16 November. Available at:
http://blog.conservation.org/2010/11/lost-frogs-update-three-new-species-discovered-in-colombia/
Kluger, J. (2010) Top ten new species of 2010. Time Magazine, 9 December. Available at:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034045_2034039,00.html
Bergen, M. (2010) Lost frogs: Colombia. Conservation International Articles, 30 September. Available at:
http://www.conservation.org/FMG/Articles/Pages/search_lost_frogs_colombia_robin_moore.aspx
Cooke, L. (2010) In search of the lost frog of Colombia. The Telegraph, 18 November. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8140419/In-search-of-the-lost-frog-of-Colombia.html

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Rhinella sp. nov.

Robin Moore
Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington
VA 22202
Tel: 202.360.5339
robin@robindmoore.com
http://www.robindmoore.com

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