Spotted Toad

Rhaebo guttatus

The Spotted Toad is a unique amphibian with beautiful spots on its skin. It loves to hop around in moist areas and is often found near ponds and streams.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Spotted Toad is a large, sturdy amphibian, typically brown to gray with darker irregular spots and warty skin. It has prominent reddish-orange glands behind its eyes, making it visually distinct from smooth-skinned frogs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyBufonidaeGenusRhaebo

Spotted Toad

Interesting facts

Some toads, like this one, can live for over 10 years in the wild, which is ancient for an amphibian!

Their powerful hind legs aren't just for hopping; they are super digging tools for hiding!

They swell up like a balloon when threatened, making themselves too big for some predators to swallow!

Toads don't drink water with their mouths; they soak it up through their skin like a sponge!

Special abilities

Spotted Toad has special glands behind its eyes that produce a milky toxin, helping protect them from predators.

Spotted Toad can quickly flick out its long, sticky tongue to snatch unsuspecting insects for a meal.

Spotted Toad has strong hind legs and bony spades on its feet to dig backwards and burrow into the soil.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-18 cm
Weight: 0.1-0.5 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 1 km/h
Clutch Size: 5000-20000
Metamorphosis: 30-70 days

Diet & Feeding

This hungry amphibian eats many creepy crawlies to stay strong and healthy!

Age differences: Young tadpoles are detritivores, filtering algae and decaying matter, while adults are carnivores.

Primary Foods

beetles
ants
worms
spiders
crickets
slugs

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Ring-necked Snake

Leptodeira annulata

This nocturnal snake preys on amphibians, including toads.

eaten by

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

Vultures may scavenge on sick or injured toads.

eats

German Cockroach

Blattella germanica

The toad helps control populations of various insects.

eats

Red-footed Ant

Camponotus rufipes

An important predator of many ground-dwelling invertebrates.

Traits

Spotted

Marked with spots or patches of a different color.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.