Scutiger occidentalis
Scutiger occidentalis is a species of toad found in the Western Himalayas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It has often been treated as a synonym of Scutiger nyingchiensis, but molecular data show that these species are distinct. It is also known as the Ladakh high altitude toad, Ladakh pelobatid toad, western pelobatid toad, or Asian lazy toad. It is the most western member of its genus.
Description
A large-sized Scutiger, adult males of S. occidentalis measure and adult females in snout–vent length. The snout is relatively short.A Gosner stage 25 tadpole measured in snout–vent length and in total length.
Habitat and conservation
S. occidentalis inhabits high-mountain regions at elevations between above sea level. A tadpole was found from a 0.5-metre deep pool under a waterfall.As of October 2021, S. occidentalis has only been included in the IUCN Red [List of Threatened Species] as a synonym of S. nyingchiensis, corresponding to the western part of its range. S. nyingchiensis was assessed as a "least-concern species" in 2004.