Orange Toad (Throat Region)
Orange-colored pigments in the throat and ventral regions of a relatively large-sized juvenile of the toad Bufo japonicus formosus, captured during surveys for the salamander Hynobius kimurae, from within muddy water under a stone in a torrent (water temperature = 6.2 C, water pH-data = 7.1-7.3) that was flowing through the forest floor in Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (photographed on 11 November 2006). This coloration is rare in this species. Entering the water for winter-dormancy is considered an adaptation of this species to severe environments in a cold location.
Accompanied Research Collaborators (alphabetical order): Masaichi Kakegawa (Tokyo Metropolitan Komatsugawa Senior High School), and Fujio Kishi and Yuko Saikawa (Shirouma Association of Naturalists).
Copyright 2006 Masato Hasumi, Dr. Sci. All rights reserved.
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