Toads are amphibians of the order Anura, the same order to which frogs belong, and the family Bufonidae, which includes 46 genera. They are found almost everywhere on the planet and it is easy to distinguish them by their dry and rough bodies, in addition to the way they move, by jumping.
There are hundreds of types of toads, some with powerful poisons and others totally harmless, how many of them do you know and are you able to identify ? Discover curiosities of the toad and various species in this article on our site.
1. Common Toad (Bufo bufo)
The Bufo bufo or common toad is distributed throughout much of Europe, as well as some Asian countries, such as Syria. It prefers to live in wooded areas and meadows, close to water sources. In addition, it is also possible to find it in urban areas, where it lives in parks and gardens.
The species measures between 8 and 13 centimeters. It presents a body full of roughness and warts. As for its color, it is dark brown, similar to that of earth or mud, with yellowish eyes.
two. Arabian Toad (Sclerophrys arabica)
The Arabian toad is distributed in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. It lives in any area where it can find water sources, necessary for its reproduction.
Presented in greenish body with few wrinkles. The skin has numerous circular black spots, plus a discreet line from head to tail, similar to the natterjack toad.
3. Baloch Green Toad (Bufotes zugmayeri)
The Baloch green toad is endemic to Pakistan, where it has only been recorded from Pishin. It lives in prairie areas and it is common to find it in agricultural areas. Little is known about their habits and way of life.
4. Caucasian Spotted Toad (Pelodytes caucasicus)
The Caucasus Spotted Toad is distributed in Armenia, Russia, Turkey and Georgia, where it inhabits forested areas. It prefers areas with abundant vegetation, close to water sources.
It is characterized by having a dark brown body with multiple brown or black warts. The eyes are large and yellowish.
5. Oriental Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis)
The Bombina orientalis is distributed in Russia, Korea and China, where it inhabits coniferous forests, grasslands and other areas near sources of water. Also, it is possible to find it in urban areas.
The eastern fire-bellied toad is only 5 centimeters long. It is distinguished by its colors, since it has a green tone on the upper part, while the belly is red, orange or yellowish; both on the upper and lower parts, the body is covered with black spots.
This type of toad is more poisonous than the previous ones and it shows it to its predators by showing the intense red color of its belly when it feels threatened.
6. Cane toad (Rhinella marina)
The cane toad is a species that is distributed in various countries of North and South America and the Caribbean. It lives in humid areas of savannas, forests and fields, although it can also be found in gardens.
This variety is highly poisonous to other species, so it is one of the most poisonous types of toads. Both adult toads and tadpoles and eggs are capable of killing their predators by being ingested. For this reason, it is considered an invasive and dangerous species, since it can quickly reduce the animal population in the places where it lives. This species of toad is dangerous for pets.
7. Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri)
The Bufo stejnegeri or water toad is native to China and Korea and it is a rare species. It prefers to live in wooded areas near water sources, where it nests.
This toad secretes a poisonous substance that can be toxic to pets and other larger predators.
8. Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius)
Incilius alvarius is endemic to Sonora (Mexico) and some areas of the United States. It is a large toad with a chubby appearance. Its color varies between mud brown and sepia on the back and lighter on the abdomen. It also has some yellow spots and green dots near the eyes.
This species has active toxic components on its skin, which produce hallucinogenic effects. Due to these properties, the species is used in seances.
9. American Toad (Anaxyrus americanusse)
The Anaxyrus americanus is distributed in the United States and Canada, where it inhabits forest areas, grasslands and thickets. The species measures between 5 and 7 centimeters and is characterized by a sepia body full of black warts.
This species is toxic to animals that prey on it, therefore domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, are at risk if they eat or bite them. Find out what to do if your dog bites a toad in this article.
10. Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)
The common Asian toad is distributed in several Asian countries. It lives in natural and urban areas a few meters above sea level, which is why it can be found near beaches and riverbanks.
The species measures up to 20 centimeters and has a sepia and beige body with multiple dark warts. It is also distinguished by red areas around the eyes. The toxic substances of the species are dangerous for snakes and other predators.
eleven. Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita)
The natterjack toad is a species that is distributed in Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Portugal, Russia and the Ukraine, among other European countries. It inhabits both semi-desert areas as well as forest and prairie areas, near freshwater sources.
Your skin is brownish with different spots and warts. It is easy to differentiate from other species, since it has a yellow stripe from the head to the tail.
12. Green toad (Bufotes viridis)
The green toad is an introduced species in Spain and the Balearic Islands, but it is found in much of Europe and some areas of Asia. It inhabits forests, grasslands, and near thickets, as well as urban areas.
It reaches up to 15 centimeters and its body has a particular coloration: grayish skin or light sepia, with numerous bright green spots. This species is another of the types of more poisonous toads.
13. Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates cultripes)
Pelobates cultripes is distributed in Spain and France, where it lives in areas at 1770 meters. It can be found in dunes, forests, urban areas and agricultural areas.
The spadefoot toad is characterized by its sepia skin with darker spots. The eyes, meanwhile, are yellowish.
14. Common midwife toad (Alytes maurus or Alytes obstetricans)
Alytes maurus or Alytes obstetricans is found in Spain and Morocco. It lives in wooded areas and rocks with high levels of humidity. Also, it can nest on rocks if they are surrounded by water.
Measures up to 5 centimeters and has skin full of warts. Its coloration is sepia with small spots of color. The male of the species carries the larvae on his back during development.
Are all toads poisonous?
All types of toads have toxins on their skin to ward off predators. However, not all species are equally deadly, which means that some toads are more poisonous than others. The toxins of some toads are simply psychoactive, causing hallucinations and other similar symptoms but not death, while the venom of some species can be lethal.
In general, most types of toads are not dangerous to humans, but some can be dangerous to other animal species, such as dogs and cats.
Toad curiosities
Toads, also called bufonidae (Bufonidae) are amphibians of the anuran order. They inhabit humid and vegetated areas throughout the world, except for arctic areas, where the cold climate does not allow them to survive.
Among the curiosities of the toad, it is possible to mention the lack of teeth, despite the fact that they are carnivorous animals. How do they eat without teeth? Once the prey is in its mouth, the toad presses its head to pass the victim through its throat without the need to chew it, in this way, it eats it alive.
Unlike frogs, toads have dry, rough skin. In addition, they have warts and some species have horns. Males and females emit vocalizations during the mating season.
There are kinds of diurnal and nocturnal toads. Likewise, they have arboreal or terrestrial customs, although they all need to live near water sources to reproduce.
How long does it take for a tadpole to turn into a toad?
Another interesting thing about toads is their life cycle. Like frogs, the species goes through a transformation that includes several phases:
- Egg
- Larva
- Tadpole
- Toad
Now then, during this metamorphosis, how long does it take for a tadpole to turn into a toad? On average, this metamorphosis takes 2 to 4 months.
Types of tadpoles
There are also different types of tadpoles, according to the family they belong to:
- Type I: includes the Pipidae family, that is, frogs without tongues. The tadpole does not have denticles (small or developing teeth) and has two spiracles (breathing holes).
- Type II: belong to the family Microhylidae, which includes several orders of frogs. The oral morphology is more complex than in type I.
- Type III: includes the Archaeobatrachia family, with 28 species of frogs and toads. They have complex beaks and mouths.
- Type IV: Includes the family Hylidae (tree frogs) and the Bufonidae (most toads). The mouths have denticles and beaks.
