''Sclerophrys langanoensis'' is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to northern Rift Valley in Ethiopia, where it has been recorded from Lake Langano (its type locality) and the Awash National Park; the latter population might represent a distinct species. It is likely that this species will also be found in

Eritrea Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia ...

and Somalia. Common name Lake Langano toad has been coined for it.

Description

Adult males measure and adult females in snout–urostyle length. The head is triangular with a rounded snout. The tympanum is distinct. The parotoid glands are moderately well defined. The toes have extensive webbing. The dorsum has many rounded warts and distinct, small warts forming two rows along the mid-line. Dorsal ground colour varies from pale greenish-grey to sepia. A narrow but often indistinct vertebral line is frequently present. A pattern of brown or orange blotches may be present.

Habitat and conservation

''Sclerophrys langanoensis'' occurs in and near permanent water (stream-fed pools, irrigation ditches, and non-alkaline lakes) in arid savanna and semi-desert areas at elevations of

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

. The tadpoles develop in permanent lakes and pools. This species has been reasonably common at the two localities where it is known, but recent data are lacking. It is threatened by

environmental degradation Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment (biophysical), environment through depletion of resources such as quality of air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; an ...

and water pollution. However, irrigation schemes that increase the availability of suitable habitat could benefit it. ''S. langanoensis'' occurs in one protected area, the Awash National Park.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2703707 langanoensis Frogs of Africa Amphibians of Ethiopia Endemic fauna of Ethiopia Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians described in 1978