|
Amphibian. Touching a toad won't cause warts, but toads CAN secrete poisons that cause convulsions, paralysis, and even death in some predators! Like frogs, toads begin life in a very different form. From eggs, they hatch as fish-like tadpoles breathing through gills and living in water. During a process called metamorphosis, they lose their tail and gills, trading them in for legs and lungs. This period of change can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year. Toads, like frogs, also have the ability to breathe through their skins. Adult toads range in size from 18-200 mm (.7-8 in) and do not have teeth. Some species live up to 40 years. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Family Bufonidae |
Commonly 4 to 15 years |
| Diet |
| Carnivore. Insects, slugs, and worms. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Snakes, raccoons, foxes, skunks, dogs, ravens, crows, owls, hawks and grackles. |
| Habitat |
| Found on all continents except Antarctica and isolated islands like New Zealand, New Guinea, and Madagascar. Toads were introduced to Australia and are not originally native. |
