Melanophryniscus montevidensis
| Melanophryniscus montevidensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Melanophryniscus |
| Species: | M. montevidensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Phillippi, 1902) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Melanophryniscus stelzneri ssp. montevidensis Gallardo, 1991 | |
Melanophryniscus montevidensis, also called Darwin's toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae and the genus Melanophryniscus found in Brazil and Uruguay. Like other amphibians in its genus, its bright colors, defensive behavior, and rapid metamorphosis make it stand out. It also has a myriad of chemical compounds on its skin that could be used in biomedical applications.
Darwin's toad is jet black with yellow patches on its back, sides, forelimbs, and ventral. It has a red spot on the ventral side of the thigh and part of the abdomen. The palms of his hands and soles of its feet are also red.