Main Characteristics of Toads
- There are more than 650 species of toads.
- Toads, just like frogs and fire-bellied toads, are part of the amphibian group known as Anura.
- The Anura order includes 6,500 species, which means that there are nine times as many frogs as toads.
- Toads have a stocky, round body shape and a thick belly.
- Compared to frogs, they have very short legs. Especially the hind legs are much shorter.
- Toads do not jump. They move around on all fours because their bodies are too heavy and their legs are too weak.
- Toads have a dry, leathery skin covered in numerous warts and bumps.
- It is said that touching a toad causes warts. That is not true.
- They spend most of their time on land and adapt well to dryness.
- Therefore, they do not have webbing between their fingers.
- The Colorado river toad can even handle extreme dryness: it resides in the Sonoran Desert in the USA.
- The Colorado river toad is also the only toad that produces a substance in its glands that has a hallucinogenic effect on humans.
- Toads are carnivores. They primarily feed on insects, worms, snails, and woodlice.
- They are active during twilight and at night. During the day, they rest.
- Not all toads start their lives as tadpoles and undergo metamorphosis to become adult animals.
- In Tanzania, there are toads whose offspring emerge from the eggs already fully developed.
- In Germany, the common toad is the most prevalent species. It is also the largest in Europe.
- The cane toad is the largest toad in the world. It measures 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) in length and weighs 18-28 ounces (500-800 grams). Some particularly large individuals can even reach lengths of 15 inches (38 cm) and weigh up to 6 pounds (2.7 kg).
- The American toad is the most common toad found in the USA and Canada. Also frequently seen are the Colorado river toad, the Texas toad, and the Wyoming toad.
- The smallest toad is the Beira toad (Bufo taitanus beiranus). It reaches a maximum length of 0.94 inches (24 mm).
Toad Family Tree
