Melanophryniscus klappenbachi (Prigioni & Langone, 2000)

International Conservation Status (IUCN, 2013): Least Concern.
National Conservation Status (AHA, 2012): Not Threatened.

Continental Distribution: Argentina and Paraguay.

Distribution within Argentina: Chaco, Corrientes, Formosa, and Santiago del Estero.

Description: Small (25-30mm). "Toad-like" appearance: robust body and short limbs. Head slightly wider than long. Indistinguishable neck. Tympanum not conspicuous. Horizontal pupil. Aposematic coloration. Black back with irregularly shaped yellow spots distributed unevenly, with a transverse band or row of yellow spots between the eyes. Black belly speckled with yellow, with a large red spot in the posterior third of the abdomen. Red soles and palms. Middle vocal sac black.

Habitat: Flooded grasslands and savannas of the Humid Chaco. Peridomestic.

Habits: Diurnal, terrestrial, and walking.

Feeding: Small arthropods, mainly ants and aphids.

Reproduction: From November to February. "Explosive" breeding type, in temporary aquatic environments and after heavy rains. Axillary amplexus. Clear eggs (more than 300) in several groups of small isolated gelatinous masses, attached to submerged vegetation.

Behavior: When facing a potential predator, it arches its body, exposing the warning colors of the palms, soles, and part of the belly ("unken-reflex").

Call: During the day, attached to the vegetation at the shore. Several short notes "cuik..cuik..cuik cuik cuik" followed by a trill "trrrrrriiiiiiii".

Frequent Detection Method: Visual and auditory.

Comments: Until its description by Prigioni and Langone (2000), M. klappenbachi populations were considered to belong to M. stelzneri fulvoguttatus. While Yanosky et al. (1993) treated the species under the name Melanophryniscus stelzneri.

Author of this description: Walter Prado

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