Toad
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? Toads |
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 Monte Verde Toad
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The true toads are amphibians in the Bufonidae family. A number of species in other families of Amphibia are commonly referred to as toads. This is because the characteristics that are popularly used to distinguish frogs from toads are not quite the same as those used for scientific classification.
The type species of the family Bufonidae is the Common toad, Bufo bufo, and around it cluster a large number of species of the same genus, and some smaller genera. B. bufo is a tailless amphibian of stout build, with a warty skin, and any animal that shares these characteristics is liable to be called a toad, regardless of its location in formal taxonomy.
That the shape of the body is not a safe guide in judging of anuran groups is shown by some true frogs (Rana), which have adapted to burrowing habits, and are absolutely toad-like. The Bufonidae include terrestrial, burrowing, thoroughly aquatic and arboreal types; Rhinophrynus, of Mexico, may be described as an anteater.
Almost all toads have two lumps near the head, called the parotid glands. These glands contain poison, which oozes out if the toad is angered. Some, like cane toads, are more poisonous than others.
Genera
- Adenomus
- Altiphrynoides
- Andinophryne
- Ansonia
- Atelophryniscus
- Atelopus
- Bufo
- Bufoides
- Capensibufo
- Churamiti
- Crepidophryne
- Dendrophryniscus
- Didynamipus
- Frostius
- Laurentophryne
- Leptophryne
- Melanophryniscus
- Mertensophryne
- Metaphryniscus
- Nectophryne
- Nectophrynoides
- Nimbaphrynoides
- Oreophrynella
- Osornophryne
- Parapelophryne
- Pedostibes
- Pelophryne
- Pseudobufo
- Rhamphophryne
- Schismaderma
- Spinophrynoides
- Stephopaedes
- Truebella
- Werneria
- Wolterstorffina