About Duttaphrynus scaber (Schneider, 1799)
Duttaphrynus scaber, formally described by Schneider in 1799, is a species of toad belonging to the family Bufonidae. Its common names include Schneider's dwarf toad. The taxon Bufo fergusonii, which is now recognized as a synonym of Duttaphrynus scaber, has previously gone by the common names Ferguson's toad and Boulenger's burrowing toad. This species is native to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Bufo fergusonii was named for Harold S. Ferguson, who collected the original type specimen of this synonymized taxon. Duttaphrynus scaber is a widespread and common toad across India and Sri Lanka, found up to approximately 300 meters (980 feet) above sea level. It is a terrestrial species that occupies a wide range of habitats, including wet evergreen tropical forest, tropical dry forest, dry scrubland, grassland, coastal marshes, and rural farmland. Adult Duttaphrynus scaber typically stay under ground cover outside of the breeding season; during breeding season, they can be found in grasslands located near bodies of water. Tadpoles of this species develop in still, stagnant water. In portions of this species' range, Duttaphrynus scaber faces serious threats from habitat loss driven by deforestation, pollution, and urbanization.
