CLASSIFICATION OF ALYTES : MIDWIFE TOAD
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin)
Class :- AMPHIBIA ( Scaleless glandular skin , have 3 chambered heart , cold blooded, 2 occipital condyles, can live in water and land both )
Order :- ANURA OR SALIENTIA (Tail, external gills and gill-slits absent. both hind limbs and fore limbs well developed ).
Sub-order :- OPISTHOCOELA ( Vertebrae opisthocoelous, ribs free)
Family :- DISCOGLOSSIDAE ( Tongue and eyelids present. Adults with ribs )
Genus :- ALYTES
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Alytes is found in European countries. Miocene.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Amphibious toad.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF ALYTES : MIDWIFE TOAD
- Commonly known as Midwife toad.
- Body measures 5 to 8 cm in length and divided into head and trunk.
- Body surface is warty and grey, brown, green or red coloured.
- Head contains large tympanum and protuberant eyes, mouth and nostril.
- Tongue is in the form of rounded non-protrusible disc.
- Males are without vocal sacs.
- Larva contains median spiracle.
- Upper jaw toothed, and transverse process of sacral vertebrae dilated. opisthocoelous. Adults have ribs.
- Fertilization and egg deposition external.
Special features
The midwife toad has peculiar breeding habit. The male toad messages the cloaca of female with strokes of its toes for sexual stimulation and the female lays eggs in strings. The male sprays sperms over the eggs for fertilization of eggs. The male toad winds strings containing eggs around its posterior body and thighs and it goes in moist earth. Occasionally, the male toad comes in water for dip to moisten the eggs. When eggs develop into tadpole stage and are ready for hatching, the toad goes in water and larvae hate. This shows extraordinary parental care.
Identification
Since this Anura has eggs on back and above features, hence it is Alytes.
