Asian lazy toad or Nyingchian Alpine toad Scutiger nyingchiensis   FACT FILE: Local Name: Unknown Family: MEGOPHRYIDAE Genus: Scutiger Status: Rare and restricted Warning: None    Photo Credit: Image not Available     Description and Biology: Long, narrow body, snout vent length male 51-64 mm, female longer 69 mm. Head flat, wider than long; snout obtuse; nostril between snout tip and eye; pupil vertical; tympanum indistinct; internal naris large without vomerine teeth; first and second finger equal in length; no subdigital tubercles; the tarsometatarsal joint reaches in front of the shoulder; toes half webbed; dorsum tuberculated with 1-7 large spiny warts at middorsum. Sexually dimorphic, male with strong forlimbs, dark brown nuptial spines on first three fingers, a pair of dark brown spiny chest glands, a large spiny auxiliary gland and spines on the cloacal region. Scutiger nyingchiensis is morphologically distinguished from the Pakistani frogs with hidden tympanum (Paa vicina, see key in Khan, 2002) by the absence of dorsal longitudinal folds and having heavily spinulated dorsum, presence of spiny auxiliary and chest glands in male. Color:  Dorsum grey olive, with dark brown triangular spots; sides of body light yellowish; limbs spotted; chest and abdomen greenish yellow. Habitat, Distribution and Status: There are 15 Scutiger species represented in China (Zhao et al., 2000), of which one S. nyingchiensis extends into Kashmir and northeastern Pakistan. Subsequent to the specimen from Lun Bagla several specimen of S. nyinchiensis has been collected from Gilgit and Deosai Plains by Baig (personal communication, 04) and late W. Auffenberg (www.flmnh.ufl.edu). Possible reasons for amphibian decline: General habitat alteration and loss Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities Urbanization Prolonged drought Habitat fragmentation Local pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants Long-distance pesticides, toxins, and pollutants Predators (natural or introduced) Scutiger nyingchiensis () Map Credit: Dr. Muhammad Sharif Khan     References and Credits: Written by M. S. Khan ([email protected]), Herp Lab, Rabwah, Pakistan Edited by vtv (2002-05-24 ) AmphibiaWeb database, University of California at Berkeley  ( http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/aw/index.html ) Nausherwan Ahmed ©1997-2005 Wildlife of Pakistan-All Rights Reserved. Updated July 4th, 2005