Magellanic giant toad (SciiFii)

The Magellanic giant toad (genus and species name unknown) is a species of frog in the family Calyptocephalellidae that originally lived in Chile during the Eocene as its extinct ancestor and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced to the modern rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, and coastlines across South America and Central America to help boost biodiversity. The Magellanic giant toad is the world's largest species of frog, reaching lengths of 60 centimeters long, not counting the legs. The food sources for the tadpole of this species is vegetation and detritus. Adults feed on virtually any animal they can overpower and swallow, including fish, invertebrates, small birds, small mammals and other frogs. Cannibalism also occurs. The Magellanic giant toad breeds in the South Hemisphere spring (September–October) when males call. The female lays between 1,000 and 16,000 eggs in well-vegetated water. Although half of the eggs never hatch, captive studies have shown that a single spawning may result in more than between 6,000 and 8,000 tadpoles. Typical larval (tadpole) life lasts five months to a year, but up to two years. After hatching, larval survival depends on the presence of vegetation as the existence of movements in the body of water maintain good oxygenation, but the presence of seasonal ponds with some degree of drainage is essential for hatching, as these sites contain fewer predators to the larvae. Then, the transport of larvae from ponds, to larger bodies of water during the rains, or transport of these among several bodies of water facilitates the survival and allows a good development of populations. The larvae prefer cooler areas of the body of water and protective aquatic vegetation, unlike toad larvae that occupy the same sites and have a higher degree of pigmentation that protects them from the solar rays. While the species is largely aquatic, especially young Magellanic giant toads that are recently metamorphosed from the tadpole stage often can be seen on land. In captivity, they can breed when 2 years old and a female was able to breed until 28 years old. The Magellanic giant toad is quite aggressive and it has an aggressive call specifically directed at other individuals of the same species. During encounters with conspecifics they inflate their body, open their large mouth and may jump forward towards an opponent. The same behavior can be directed at potential predators, including humans, although they may choose to escape silently by diving into the water. It is often kept in herpetoculture; often locally where farmed for food, but also in many countries as a pet. The conservation status of the Magellanic giant toad is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic overcollecting, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Magellanic giant toad is a protected species and is making a comeback.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii