Pacific Wet Forest Toad
Incilius aucoinae - Sapo de Hojarasca
 Wet Forest Toad© by Roy Orozco |  Wet Forest Toad© by Roy Orozco |
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The genus Incilius was split from Bufo by Frost et al in 2006. This split is particularly controversial among herpetologists, and many references still use the long-established Bufo. Also, Ollotis was used by some references between 2006 and 2009.
Anatomy:
The Wet Forest Toad is characterized by a prominent cranial crest and a dark broad strip on the side, there is a border of light-colored warts above the stripe; the parotoid gland is small and triangular.
Incilius aucoinae is a relatively large toad with a snout-vent length of 73.6 mm for males and 106.7 mm for females. This species has a distinct sexual dimorphism. The females are larger than the males, but the males have longer heads. Males also have more muscular forearms than the female. Females have more pairs of irregular black dorsal spots, a middorsal stripe, and a variable dorsal pattern (Guyer and Donnelly 2005; O'Neill and Mendelson 2004).
Taxonomic Notes:
Until recently this species was one single population under the name I. melanochlorus, the Pacific population is now consider a as a separate species, I. aucoinae (O'Neill and Mendelson, 2004). However, records of Incilius melanochlorus from the Pacific slope remain, and these need further investigation to confirm their identity (Federico Bolaños and Gerardo Chaves pers. comm.).
Natural History:
During the breeding season, males develop nuptial pads, consisting of dark, thickened patches on the dorsal surface of each thumb. The male calls during the dry season (January to February) from pools along rocky streams, within 0.5 meters of water (Savage 2002).
Habitat:
In Manuel Antonio this toad prefers moist and wet lowlands. It is often found on forest litter along stream edges. It breeds during the drier season from January through March in pools along rocky steams, and the species is more closely associated with streams at that time.
Diet:
This toad eats small invertebrates, but its biology is not well known.
Threats:
The major threats to this species include alterations of its stream habitat due to pollution. The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has also been proposed as a potential future threat. This species occurs in Costa Rican National Parks and other protected areas, including La Selva and Monteverde, under population monitoring (IUCN 2006).
Status:
It is common and somewhat adaptable with a presumed large population, and it is unlikely to be declining to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
Where in Manuel Antonio-Quepos can we find this specie:
- Manuel Antonio National Park:
- Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge:
- Manuel Antonio Wildlife Refuge:
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