About Leptophryne cruentata (Tschudi, 1838)
Common Name and Basic Classification
Leptophryne cruentata, commonly called the bleeding toad, is a medium-sized toad species.
Body Coloration
Individuals have dark red or purple bodies, with blood-red to yellow marbling on the back and legs.
Size Measurements
Males measure 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) in snout–vent length, while females reach 25–40 mm (0.98–1.57 in).
Distinguishing Morphological Traits
Bleeding toads resemble other toads in the family Bufonidae but have several distinct traits: reduced Bidder's organs, partially fused pectoral epicoracoid cartilage, a slender body shape, and elongated limbs.
Etymology of Common Name
This species gets its common name from its red back markings and the skin secretions it produces when stressed.
Endemic Range
Bleeding toads are endemic to western Java, Indonesia.
Known Occurrence Sites
They are only known from a small number of sites in Mount Gede Pangrango National Park and the area around Mount Halimun Salak National Park.
Habitat and Altitude Range
They prefer boundary zones between moist lowland areas and mountainous forests, and are currently typically found at altitudes between 1,200–2,000 m (3,900–6,600 ft) above sea level.
Reproduction and Larval Development
This species breeds and lays its eggs in slow-moving vernal streams, where its larvae develop.
