Melanophryniscus stelzneri

[Tato]

Hi, I just received few of this toads from a friend, does anybody know how to diferenciate males from females?
Best regards.
Tato

[MoonontheLake]

Tato,
In most species of frogs and toads, the females tend to be larger than the males. However, without you saying (or even knowing) how old your toad(s) are, it is hard to say whether you have frogs (toads are technically frogs) that are even old enough to try and sex. Males will call, or sing when they are old enough to breed and low pressure systems (rains coming in) show up, which triggers breeding behavior. Females will also chirp occasionally, just not as loud or long as males, so if you simply hear it chirp, it doesn't neccessarily mean its a male, unless it is sustained. If you know the age of your toad(s) try keywording their common as well as scientific name, and see if you can locate a wav file that is the frog's song. If you can play it back to it/them, perhaps you can trigger them to sing. This would prove it is a male. Also, try misting the enclosure first. (But not the toads, they don't like it directly on them)
Again, if they are too young, they will not sing and could still be males!
Another way to tell is to look for nuptial pads on their front hands. These are usually black, warty like knobs on the underside of the hand. Males use them to help them grasp the female frog when they amplex (mate).
I hope I have been some help to you,

[Tindomul1of9]

Moononthelake, that great info. I have two that sing, and only 1 that I have seen sustain the song, Im not sure about the other, and I have a third that seems to be mute. :lol:
I've never seen nuptial pads though. I'll take a closer look.

[MoonontheLake]

Tindomul,
I did not mention above, the nuptials only show up in the frogs that are of breeding age. In some species they will remain after the breeding cycle has passed, in other species they seem to fade away until the next cycle. In american greenfrogs, (rana clamitans) and bullfrogs a deep yellowish color appears on their throats and inside arms by nuptials. When I was a kid, i used to watch them for hours alongside pond and a stream behind our home, and in spring very noticeable to tell the males from the females. As summer came, the yellow colors died down. But the older the frogs, (more breeding seasons they had been through) the more pronounced the colors became and actually would never leave them! Really interesting (at least to me, lol)
I will also add, my adult male bufo terrestris do retain their nuptials, even after the breeding season is gone. They also have spots in colors of gray to greenish on their throats, and females do not. same with bull and green frogs.
whew, sorry so long, but get me on a subject i enjoy and wow!!!!

[Tato]

Thanks a lot for your reply, I read in a french article that the female have a call too, so that makes things a little more complicate...
I will way for a stormy day and see what happens.
Thanks again.
Regards

[MoonontheLake]

tato,
I just looked up an old friend of mine from another forum and he has a couple of care sheets on these toads. One is on basic care, one on breeding. He has been caring for many frog species for many years. Good luck!

Amphibiancare.com >> Yellow and Black Walking Toad (Melanophryniscus stelzneri) Care

[Tato]

Thanks a lot for the research!
I already read them, they are very good specialy the one wrote by Seth.
I hope that I have both sexes in my toads colony!!
Regards.