Toads are amphibians belonging to the order Anura. Physically, they differ from frogs in their rough, dry skin, as opposed to the smooth, moist texture of the frog's body. Experts in camouflage but, at the same time, easy to recognize due to their unmistakable croaking, toads are found almost everywhere in the world and it is common to see them in gardens on rainy days. How much do you know about their habits?
Characteristics of toads
Toads are amphibians characterized by having a small body and large eyes. Although shades can vary, the most common colors are olive, brown and gray Also They have yellow eyes with horizontal pupils. Like many other species, they present sexual dimorphism, with the females being larger than the males, reaching 14 cm in length, while their companions only measure between 9 and 10 cm.
The toad's body is round, with wide legs that have four front toes and five rear toes. The head is short but wide and includes a large snout that allows them to obtain their food very easily.
Some species of toads have a peculiar defense system, because They are capable of secreting poison through glands all over their skin.
Another characteristic of the toad is its oviparous reproduction, that is, it does so by means of eggs. The eggs incubate in water and are called tadpoles when they hatch, after which they follow a cycle similar to that of frogs.
Do toads have teeth?
Toads don't have teeth, instead they have a long sticky tongue with which they catch their prey and introduce it into the oral cavity for direct swallowing.
As we have already pointed out, most species wait for prey hidden in the vegetation and then catch it with their sticky tongue. Once in the mouth, they must swallow their prey whole, thus forcing the head down the throat without the need to chew and quickly engulf it. Once in the stomach, the prey will begin the dehydration process thanks to stomach acids.
Other species of toads lack this sticky tongue. In these cases, they catch the prey by surprising it and retain it using the force of their jaw.
Where do toads live?
Before I tell you about what common toads eat, you need to know where toads live. They can be found on all continents, where they prefer to inhabit humid environments and close to water sources They are able to survive in almost any ecosystem, from forests to grasslands and urbanized areas, however, they do not live in Antarctica or in the desert.
At birth, toads are aquatic, but once they are sufficiently developed they spend their lives both on land and in waterOn land it is common to find them hidden behind stones, trunks and bushes, in order to maintain humidity and protect themselves from predators. This task is also helped by the pigmentation of their skin, ideal for easy camouflage.
They are poikilothermic animals, which means that their internal temperature adapts to that perceived outside. This occurs because they lack body regulation mechanisms similar to those of other species, for this reason, they try to protect themselves against extreme climates by staying in humid spaces. It is also common to find them at any time of the day, especially if the weather is rainy.
Now that you know the habitat of these animals, let's now see what toads eat in these environments.
What do toads eat?
Toads are opportunistic carnivorous animals, they do not hunt their prey as any other animal would, but remain motionless waiting for they get close enough to shoot out their huge sticky tongue, at which point they easily swallow the victim.
Toads' diets vary according to their species, so what do common toads eat? Small species feed on all kinds of insects, worms, spiders and snails, while others may eat fish. On the other hand, larger species eat small snakes, lizards and rodents So if you wonder what small toads eat, you can see that the answer is small animals that are easy to catch with their tongues.
A characteristic of the toad is its ability to adapt when it comes to eating habits. Although each species has a specific diet, they are able to vary it when environmental situations require it, in the event, for example, that certain prey are scarce or disappear.
What do toads eat?
As we have already mentioned, toads can stay both in water and on land. Toads are animals that breathe through their skin, this being gill breathing when they are tadpoles and lung breathing when they reach adulthood. So, in their adult stage they have more difficulty breathing underwater, so they live mainly outside of it. For this reason, all toads are considered land toads and, therefore, eat the beings that we have mentioned previously.
What do baby toads eat?
Baby toads, correctly called toad tadpoles, feed on plants and algae they find in the waterBecause we've already It has been said that toads are animals that undergo a metamorphosis, as they grow their eating habits change and, therefore, they become carnivores when they reach adulthood.
Before becoming adults, toads go through a tadpole stage similar to that of frogs. In this period they lack legs, have a tail and gills and live in water. Initially, these baby toads feed on the yolk sac for the first few days. Then, they require plants and seaweed. In addition, they consume debris of any kind, larvae and mosquitoes.
Threats and dangers for toads
As in many other species, there are certain threats that endanger the existence of toads. These are some of them:
- Herbicides or pesticides: toxic substances released into the environment, such as herbicides and pesticides, are highly toxic to the toad's organism.
- Habitat destruction: Pollution of rivers and lakes, as well as deforestation, are activities that put their lives at risk animals, since it means losing the shelters that protect them from their predators. In addition, the destruction of the habitat implies a lack of food as prey are scarce, which is why they are forced to move.
- Road Hazard – Road kill is a frequent threat to these animals as they often traverse man-made roads, especially on rainy days.
- Prolonged Droughts: Dry seasons do not represent a major problem for toads; however, if they are very extensive, they translate into a shortage of water sources and high temperatures.
What do domestic toads eat?
Like frogs, it is possible to adopt some species of toad as pets. In these cases, it is essential to offer suitable foods for each stage, in addition to providing a diet that provides the same nutrients that they would obtain in freedom. In this sense, the baby toads can be fed with crushed fish scales, which it can be found at any pet supply store. In addition, it is recommended to add algae in the pond where the tadpoles are to supplement the diet with ground red larvae.
With regard to adult domestic toads, their diet must be carnivorous. This is one of the main reasons for advising against adopting a toad as a pet, since the task of offering it an adequate diet is complicated. If you already have one at home, you need to give it small fish, live worms and larvae and sometimes fish scales. In some stores you can also buy crickets and other live insects, as well as ants. Regarding the quantities, you should pay attention to the speed at which your toad consumes the food you provide, in this way you will know how many insects, fish, etc., you need to provide per day.
And what do frogs eat?
Frogs' diet varies slightly from that of toads. Frogs can sometimes eat plant foods, while toads are strictly carnivorous. However, frogs also tend to eat insects of all kinds, snails, worms, etc. You will find all the information in this article: "What do frogs eat?".
