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More About Toads ...
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The true toads are the members of the Family Bufonidae in the Order Anura of amphibians. However, 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 certain species, such as Bufo jerboa, which has a very slender form and extremely long limbs, even surpassing in length the limbs of typical frogs. On the other hand, some true frogs (Rana), having adapted to burrowing habits, are absolutely toad-like. The Bufonidae include terrestrial, burrowing, thoroughly aquatic and arboreal types; Rhinophrynus, of Mexico, may be described as an anteater.
The genus Bufo embraces about 100 species, and is represented in nearly every part of the world except the Australian region (with the exception of the introduced Cane Toad, Bufo marinus), Madagascar, and nearly all other isolated islands.
Two species are found in the British Isles: the Common Toad, Bufo bufo, and the Natterjack Toad, Bufo calamita. The former is found almost everywhere.
The Natterjack is local to England, the southwest of Scotland, and the west of Ireland. It differs from the Common Toad in having shorter limbs with nearly free toes (which are so short that the toad never hops but proceeds with a running gait) and in usually possessing orange/red warts, green eyes, and a pale yellow line along the middle of the back. It is further remarkable for the very loud croak of the males, produced by a large vocal bladder on the throat which, when inflated, is larger than the head. Toads lay their eggs in long strings, forming double files in straight, jelly-like tubes.
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Taxonmony
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Toads
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INFO LINKS
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Toad
The Living Schoolbook - The Cyberzoo project
Marine Toad Read More
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Toad
Animal Tracks of Humboldt County
Natural History of Western Toad, Identifying Western Toad tracks. Read More
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Cane Toad
Honolulu Zoo
Cane Toad Read More
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Fowler's Toad
The Longpoint schoolhouse
Fowler's Toad Read More
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Cane toad
BBC Nature: Wildfacts
Cane toad: Facts and Pictures Read More
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Yunnan Mustache Toad
Yunnan Animal Museum
About Yunnan Mustache Toad Read More
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Puerto Rican Crested Toad
Sedgwick County Zoo
Puerto Rican Crested Toad fact sheet Read More
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Surinam Toad
Sedgwick County Zoo
Surinam Toad fact sheet Read More
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Houston Toad
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered species report for Houston Toad Read More
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jellyfish
BBCi
Toad's adaptation. Easy to read. "However, if it does make a mistake it simply turns its stomach inside out and scrapes out the unwanted meal with its front legs'. Read More
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Cane Toad
National Geographic
Cane Toad fact sheet and pictures; video clip Read More
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Horned Toad
National Geographic
Horned Toad (Short-Horned Lizard) fact sheet and pictures; video clip Read More
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Marine Toad
Rainforest Conservation Fund
Brief Narrative and pictures of Marine Toad Read More
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Sonoran Desert Toad
Blue Planet Biomes
Brief description of Sonoran Desert Toad with additional references Read More
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Golden Toad
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
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Woodhouse's Toad
Desert USA
Woodhouse's Toad: Brief description and pictures Read More
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Southern Toadlet
Tasmania - Dept. of Primary Industries, Water, and Environment
Brief description of Southern Toadlet Read More
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Arroyo Southwestern Toad
National Wildlife Federation
Categorized information about Arroyo Southwestern Toad Read More
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Woodhouse's Toad
Wind Cave National Park
Fact Sheet Read More
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Great Plains Toad
Wind Cave National Park
Fact Sheet Read More
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American Toad
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Fowler's Toad
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Oak Toad
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Southern Toad
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Eastern Narrowmouth Toad
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Eastern Spadefoot Toad
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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