Toads

Information about Toads:

Toads are the species of amphibians that fall into the order “Anura.” They generally have dry, leathery skin, colored usually dark grayish or brown with external skin glands on the back, neck, and shoulder. While toads and frogs are popularly considered as separate from frogs, there isn’t such a distinction made in taxonomy. Unlike frogs, toad have stubby bodies, short legs and are usually dry and they do not have teeth, as frogs do. They are native to everywhere on earth except for Greenland, Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar. Although due to poorly thought out introduction programs (most notably in Australia where Bufo marinus was deliberately introduced) toads have established themselves in ecosystems where they often have a very negative impact on native species. A group of toads is called a “Knot.” Despite popular belief, toads do not in any way transmit warts to people through handling. The toad’s bumpy skin is believed to help the animal blend into its environment visually by breaking up its outline. Toads are usually nocturnal and spend much of their lives underground in burrows, coming out only to eat and to breed in the spring.