The Dixie Valley toad has just been discovered and it’s already endangered
(Mirror Daily, United States) – Scientists have recently discovered a new species of toad near the Dixie Valley. However, they noticed it is already threatened, and are now trying to take measures to get the toad on the endangered species list. They have already issued an emergency petition to save it from a project which might put it in danger.
Keeping the new toad species safe from extinction
Environmental activists have admitted the endangered status of the Dixie Valley toad, and are now fighting for it to enter the endangered species list. The toad lives quite near Las Vegas, in a quite small and isolated area around 400 miles away from the city fed by thermal springs.
Authorities were planning to develop an extensive project and produce geothermal energy from the springs. Now, scientists want to keep the project away from the toad’s habitat, and make sure it won’t go extinct so shortly after being discovered.
The Dixie Valley toad sets itself apart from other toads in the area
The toad measures around 2 inches in length, and can be easily recognized by the mottles on its back colored in brown, green, and black. Researchers from the University of Nevada-Reno discovered the species, and developed a study published in the journal Zootaxa.
They declared this toad had been the object of many studies since the beginning of the century. The extensive analysis of the species began in 2014, but only now where the researchers able to confirm it was a new toad species.
Although it resembles a Western toad, it has certain features which differentiate the two species. The Dixie Valley toad is about half the size of a Western toad, and is poisonous. What sets it apart are the placement of the poison glands, which are to be found on its back legs.
Now, scientists are trying to stop the company from building its geothermal power plants right next to the species’ habitat. The Bureau of Land Management will review this project, and might make a decision in favor of the environment.
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