Poyntonophrynus
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| Poyntonophrynus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
| Genus: | Poyntonophrynus Frost et al., 2006[1] |
| Type species | |
| Bufo vertebralis Smith, 1848 | |
| Species | |
|
10 species (see text) | |
Poyntonophrynus, also known as pygmy toads, are a genus consisting of ten true toad species native to Sub-Saharan Africa.[2][3] Originally, all Poyntonophrynus species were included in the genus Bufo. The genus was split due to large enough taxonomic divergence as evidenced by molecular markers.[1] The genus is named in honour of John Charles Poynton, South African herpetologist, with phrynus being Greek for toad.[1]
Poyntonophrynus corresponds to the former Bufo vertebralis group.[1][2] Poyntonophrynus is the sister taxon of Mertensophryne. Some molecular studies have suggested polyphyly of Poyntonophrynus, but the conclusion is likely to have been caused by sequences representing a different species than assumed.[2]