Chuanbei Toothed Toad

The male is 53 mm and the female is 58 mm in body length. This species has vertical pupils. The tympanum is hidden. Maxillary teeth are developed. The back is full of spiny tubercles. The male has spines on the upper back, nuptial spines on the first and second finger, and a pair of large spiny clusters on the chest. Spines are thin and dense. The hind legs are relatively long, with the tibiotarsal articulation extending to the eye. Digit tips are rounded. The sides of the toes have extremely wide fringes, and the fourth toe is 1/3 webbed. The dorsum is grayish yellow with loosely dispersed circular black spots. The dorsal surface of the limbs have 4-6 yellow horizontal bands. The sides of the ventrum and the ventral surface of the limbs have sparse piebald markings. Tadpoles are 65 mm long, with a head length of 25.9 mm. The body is palm brown. The labial tooth row formula is I:4-4/I:4-4. The center of the upper lip lacks 2-3 papillae. Additional papillae are present on the corners of the mouth (Fei 1999).

O. chuanbeiensis has been found in two locations: Ping Wu and Maoxian counties in northern Sichuan province, between 1300 and 2000 m in elevation (IUCN 2006). It inhabits ravines and the surrounding forest (Fei 1999).

Outside of breeding season, O. chuanbeiensis is terrestrial. In the morning, these toads hide in the damp, moist soil of holes or in the crevices between rocks. At night, they become active, often crawling or hopping for short distances. During the middle ten-day period of May to the middle ten-day period of June, the toads enter small mountain streams to lay eggs beneath rocks. Females lay about 200 eggs in a ring or clump that sticks to the underside of rocks. Eggs are 3-4 mm in diameter, and have a milky yellow animal pole. The tadpoles disperse in the crevices between rocks along the streamside. In the morning they are active in the water, moving quickly. At night they lie prone on top of the rocks in the water (Fei 1999).

Due to its restricted range, O. chuanbeiensis is extremely vulnerable to habitat loss (IUCN 2006).

Oreolalax chuanbeiensis (Sichuan lazy toad or Chuanbei toothed toad) is a species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to northern Sichuan, China where it is found in Pingwu County and Mao County. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Male Oreolalax chuanbeiensis grow to about 53 mm (2.1 in) in snout-vent length and females to about 58 mm (2.3 in). Tadpoles are 65 mm (2.6 in) in length.