Provence amphibian: spiny toad

By /
FRANÇAIS

Spiny toad: illustrated description

Spiny toad (illustration)
Drawn from a picture taken by Matthieu Berroneau
  • Toads are usually larger / bigger than frogs. This is the case of the spiny toad (which is our “local” common toad here, in Provence): it is stumpy.
  • The spiny toad has horizontal pupils.
  • Its iris is red.
  • The spiny toad walks to move around, and rarely jumps (unlike frogs).
  • The spiny toad can live up to 36 years.
  • Its length is around 13 cm (up to 18 cm)
  • Females are much bigger than males.
  • Males have horn-like growths on their front feet (below their fingers), which ease the axillary amplexus (= that’s when males grab with their front legs females under their armpits during mating).
  • Spiny toads are able to walk long distances (compared to other toads).
  • Their tadpoles are better at surviving attacks from predators (fish) because of their toxicity.

Spiny toad: scientific classification

  • Domain: biota
  • Kingdom: animalia
  • Phylum: chordata
  • Class: amphibia
  • Order: anura
  • Family: bufonidae
  • Genus: bufo
  • Species: Bufo spinosus
Sources:
- LPO (wildlife protection league) training (April 2024)
Many thanks to Robin LHUILLIER, regional naturalist training manager at the LPO of Provence (wildlife protection league), for the quality of his training on the amphibians of Provence.

- "Guide des amphibiens d'Europe" d'A. & C. NÖLLERT / Publisher: Delachaux & Niestlé (book in French)
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