The viviparous toad of Nimba

The Nimba Mountains are known as the home to the world’s only viviparous toad. Unlike other toad species that lay eggs (oviparous), this is the only one that develops eggs in its body, thus giving birth to already formed (viviparous) froglets. The Western Nimba toad (Mount Nimba viviparous toad, Nimbaphrynoides occi- dentalis) is a small toad barely 2 cm long that lives in natural highland meadows between 1200 and 1600 m. This unique species is endemic to the Nimba Mountains and is critically endangered because of its tiny species distribution.