Toads - Biology Of Toads, Toads Of North America, Toads And Humans
species length skin largest
The true toads are amphibians in the order Anura, family Bufonidae. There are 355 species of toads in 25 genera. The largest group is the genus Bufo, which includes 205 species.
Toads are characterized by thick, dry, warty skin, with large poison glands on the side of the head and a relatively terrestrial habit as adults. In contrast, adult frogs have a smooth, slimy skin, and a more aquatic habitat.
Toads have a wide natural distribution, occurring on all major land masses except Australasia, Madagascar, and Antarctica. In some regions toads range as far north as the boreal forest, but most species occur in temperate or tropical climatic regimes.
The largest toads are from Central and South America, and include Bufo marinus, which can reach a body length (excluding the outstretched legs) of 11 in (29 cm), and B. blombergi at 10 in (25 cm). The smallest species of toad is a species of Opeophrynella, with a body length of only 0.75 in (20 mm).
Additional Topics
Toads are amphibious animals, breeding in water, but able to use terrestrial habitats as adults. As adults, toads potentially can live a long time. One of the longest-lived toads was a European common toad (Bufo bufo), which survived for 36 years in captivity. Toads have a complex life cycle, similar to that of frogs. Toads lay their eggs in water, typically inside of long, intertwined strings of …
The only genus of true toads in North America is Bufo, of which 17 species occur north of Mexico. One of the most widespread species is the American toad (Bufo americanus), an abundant animal in eastern North America. The common or Woodhouse toad (B. woodhousei) is most abundant in the eastern and central United States, but occurs as far west as California. The great plains toad (B. cognatus) occu…
Like most creatures of wetlands and other relatively specialized habitats, some species of toads have suffered large population declines through losses of their natural habitats. This has been an especially important problem for species whose original distribution was quite restricted, for example, the rare and endangered Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis). One species of toad has become an importan…
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