Unlike other Egyptian toads this is a highly aquatic species. Nocturnal, but calling males can often be heard throughout the day, particularly in spring and autumn. Usually detected by its distinctive call.The species appears highly secretive; males calling at very close range are almost impossible to locate. Often in very dense populations, especially in rice fields, where up to 6 animals were observed within a 0.5 m2 area.
Least Concern
A small toad; SVL of males up to 34 mm, of females up to 38.5 mm. Snout relatively short, slightly pointed; paratoids indistinct, spinose, oval; tympanum relatively large, 0.68-0.86 of eye diameter, and set very close to it. Back notably granular, spinose; ventral sides granular. Second finger longer than first; hind limbs short, with limited webbing between digits; tarsal ridge absent. Males with a subgular vocal sac. Dorsum light olive gray with paired dark marks in the interorbital, pectoral, and sacral regions, often a thin whitish, mid-dorsal line. Crimson femoral patches of variable size are present. Ventral sides white, sometimes with dark flecks; throat pale orange in males. Adult males are usually suffused yellow, with a reduced dorsal pattern, and are notably more spinose than females. Call simple, rattle-like. Call characteristics: average pulses/call = 3.46; average call duration = 119.88 ms.
The Nile Valley and Delta, and the Fayoum Depression. The species was previously thought to be confined to the Delta (Baha El Din 1993), but seems to have spread upstream along the Nile River, probably as a result of the establishment of extensive reed swamps along the riverbanks and canals, after the completion of the High Dam. The species can be heard regularly along the Nile even in the middle of Cairo, and abundant populations were recently discovered in the Luxor region.
Apparently endemic to Egypt.
Prefers densely vegetated microhabitats in shallow or deep water. In reed swamps, rice fields, overgrown canals, and waterways; even in floating clumps of vegetation in the middle of the Nile. Only once observed on dry land, when several animals were encountered in a newly ploughed field (a rice field being prepared) at midday near Damietta.
Common but localized.
