Pevtsov's Toad.
Medium-sized toads, up to 91 mm maximum. They are primarily genetically distinguished from the Turan toad (Bufo turanensis) (number of chromosomes = 44), by the distance between the fore and hind limbs, which is more than one and a half times the length from the shoulder joint to the corner of the mouth; males are distinguished from females by a shorter distance - almost equal to the distance from the shoulder joint to the corner of the mouth. The parotids are small, noticeably expanded at the front and narrowed at the back; they are the smallest parotids among the toads of the Issyk-Kul population. The head is relatively narrow and somewhat elongated. Males are colored olive-gray, dark gray, sometimes almost black (in high mountains) - in this case, small, medium, or rarely large spots are weakly expressed and poorly distinguishable – both in males and females; often, spots are completely absent in males; in females, spots are more pronounced, they are small, medium, or large without a border or with a weakly or well-defined dark border.
Distribution
They inhabit all of Kyrgyzstan except for the Chui Valley. In the latter, toads are found in the foothill area. There are known finds in the city of Bishkek (introduced). This toad is distributed in all mountain belts except for the nivale - from 800 to 3800 m above sea level. The start of the breeding period depends on the characteristics of the area, the altitude, the hydrological regime, and the early or later onset of spring. As a result, mating and spawning in toads in Kyrgyzstan are stretched out and occur from March to June. During these months, and in the high mountains in July, the voices of males can be heard. In clutches (egg strings in one, sometimes two, and rarely three rows and 3 to 6 meters long /the string is very stretched/, usually 3-4 m), the number of eggs does not exceed 3000, averaging 2465 eggs. The diet mainly consists of terrestrial insects. Larvae primarily feed on phytoplankton and detritus. Among invertebrates, ants are most commonly found in the diet of adult individuals.
For example, in the diet of toads in the Alai Valley, ants made up about 50%, while beetles (16.3% and 12.3%) and dipterans were less common; the rest included millipedes - Chilopoda, butterflies - Lepidoptera, hymenopterans - Hymenoptera, staphylinid beetles - Staphylinidae, etc., which accounted for 4.9 to 0.4% (Andrushko, 1951). In the stomachs of toads, non-food objects (sand, small stones, pieces of paper, etc.) are often found, which are captured along with prey. There are known cases of cannibalism: larva – larva. The departure for wintering depends on the characteristics of the territory (altitude characteristics) and the duration of the warm period. Usually, the departure to winter shelters occurs from the end of August (in high mountains) and mid-September. The last toads were encountered in late October. Along the marshy floodplains and small streams of the Karkara River, adults and yearlings (see population) were found on October 5.
In the same area on the same day in the steppe by a stream with water-filled depressions, actively moving toads and Central Asian frogs were encountered during the daytime. Fresh food was found in the stomachs of the toads. Yearlings, as well as adult toads, are preyed upon by the lake frog, water snake, horned viper, badger, and several birds. This species of toad is widely distributed in Kyrgyzstan and is generally a thriving species. During the breeding and migration period to water sources, crushed toads can often be seen on roads. Occasionally, dead individuals are found. For instance, in the Karkara River area and farms near springs and the streams flowing from them, 8 dead toads of various ages were found.
The cause of their death is unknown. They may have died due to unfavorable wintering conditions or became victims of livestock grazing. In Kazakhstan, this species of toad is listed in the Red Book.
Biology
It inhabits a wide range of biotopes, preferring open spaces - marshy, dry, sandy, clayey, and stony areas of intermountain depressions near water bodies – puddles, small streams, rivers, lakes, canals, irrigation ditches, rice fields, and treatment facilities. They can be found near burrows, in piles of stones, garbage dumps, near old adobe fences, and farms. During the daytime, toads lead a secretive lifestyle, hiding in various shelters (scree, under individual large stones, among rocks, clods of clay ravines, in burrows of rodents, and other shelters) where they can also find food. These shelters can be located near and along the banks of various water sources (rivers, streams, lakes, thermal springs, etc.) as well as at a significant distance from them. With the onset of twilight, the activity of toads increases. During the breeding period, they appear near and in water sources. The number of males in the water quickly increases and reaches its maximum by 10 PM; females appear later than males and are always few in number (see "Population"). Outside the breeding season, in conditions of insufficient humidity (dry steppes and deserts), the movement of toads to water sources occurs regularly. For example, on the western desert coast of Lake Issyk-Kul, during the summer and autumn periods, toads moved from the drylands to the shore and into the water at twilight. The behavior of daily migration is evidently related to maintaining the water balance in the bodies of toads.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Kyrgyzstan
