What is a True Toad?
A true toad is any member of the family Bufonidae, in the order Anura (frogs and toads). This is the only family of anurans in which all members are known as toads, although some may be called frogs (such as harlequin frogs). The bufonids now comprise more than 35 genera, Bufo being the best known.
All true toads are toothless and generally warty in appearance. They have a pair of parotoid glands on the back of their heads. These glands contain an alkaloid poison which the toads excrete when stressed. The poison can repel, or even kill predators. True toads have no teeth or breastbone. Some people think that if you touch a toad you will get warts. That is not true.
Most species in this family are dull in color and live on the land. They range in size from one inch to eight inches in length. There are over 500 species in this family and they are found all over the world, except for in Australia and its surrounding islands.
True toads are widespread and are native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica, inhabiting a variety of environments, from arid areas to rainforest. Most lay eggs in paired strings that hatch into tadpoles, although, in the genus Nectophrynoides, the eggs hatch directly into miniature toads.
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Behavior of True Toads
True toads are mostly nocturnal animals that become active at dusk and spend the night hunting for invertebrates on which they feed. They move with a slow, ungainly walk or short jumps, and have greyish-brown skin covered with wart-like lumps.
True toads do not show pronounced social behavior. Most of them are peaceful with each other and can be kept individually, in pairs or groups. However, animals must not differ significantly in size.
True toads rely on their remarkable camouflage to avoid detection by predators. They are adapted to arid or semiarid areas. Some species have the ability to inflate their bodies when threatened, making them look larger and more difficult to swallow. Others have sharp spines on their heads or bodies that can deter predators.
True toads also have defensive secretions that can be toxic or irritating to predators. The parotoid glands behind their eyes produce bufotoxins, which are alkaloids that can affect the nervous system and the heart of vertebrates. Some species can even squirt their secretions for a short distance when harassed.
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