Toad 38499 225810781 2008-07-15T14:47:32Z 84.203.233.212 {{alternateuses}} {{Taxobox | name = Toads | image = Bufo periglenes1.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = [[Golden Toad]], ''Bufo periglenes'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Amphibia]] | ordo = [[Anura]] | subdivision_ranks = Families | subdivision = At least 9, see article. }} {{expand}} '''Toad''' refers to a number of [[species]] of [[amphibian]]s. A distinction is often made between [[frog]]s and toads by their appearance, prompted by the [[convergent evolution|convergent adaptation]] among so-called toads to dry environments. For instance, toads often have leathery skin for better water retention, and a brown coloration for camouflage. Many so-called toads also [[burrow]], which requires further adaptations. However, these adaptations merely reflect the environment a species has adapted to, and are not reliable indicators of its ancestry. Since [[taxonomy]] reflects only evolutionary relationships, any distinction between frogs and toads is irrelevant to their classification. For instance, many members of the families [[Bombinatoridae]], [[Discoglossidae]], [[Pelobatidae]], [[Rhinophrynidae]], [[Scaphiopodidae]], and some species from the [[Microhylidae]] family are commonly called "toads". However, the only family exclusively given the common name "toad" is '''''Bufonidae''''', the "[[true toad]]s". Some "[[true frog]]s" of the genus ''[[Rana (genus)|Rana]]'' have also adapted to burrowing habits, while the species within the toad genus ''[[Atelopus]]'' are conversely known by the common name "[[harlequin frog]]s". 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 [[tail]]less amphibian of stout build with a [[tubercle|warty]] skin and any animal that shares these characteristics is liable to be called a toad, regardless of its location in formal taxonomy. Almost all toads of the family Bufonidae have two lumps on either side of the back of their head, called the [[parotoid gland]]s. These glands contain a poison, which oozes out if the toad is stressed. Some, like the [[Cane Toad]] ''Bufo marinus'', are more toxic than others. Some "[[psychoactive toad]]s" such as the [[Colorado River Toad]] ''Bufo alvaris'', have been used [[recreational drug|recreationally]] for the effects of the [[bufotoxin]]. == Taxonomy == {| align=right |[[Image:Common Toad (Bufo bufo).jpg|thumb|240px|''[[Common Toad|Common Toad (Bufo bufo)]]'']] |- |[[Image:Bufo americanus1.jpg|thumb|240px|American Toad, ''[[Bufo americanus]]'']] |- |[[Image:Bufo valliceps.jpg|thumb|240px|Gulf Coast Toad, ''[[Bufo valliceps]]'']] |- |[[Image:Bombina orientalis.jpg|thumb|240px|Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, ''[[Bombina orientalis]]'']] |- |[[Image:Gastrophryne carolinensis.jpg|thumb|240px|Eastern Narrowmouthed Toad, ''[[Gastrophryne carolinensis]]'']] |- |[[Image:Frogy - close look.JPG|thumb|right|240px|Southern Toad (''Bufo terrestris'')]] [[Image:American_toad.jpg|thumb|240px|American Toad ''[[Bufo americanus]]'']] |} === True toads === '''Family [[Bufonidae]]''' ([[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825) - True Toads: *''[[Adenomus]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1861) *''[[Altiphrynoides]]'' (Dubois, 1987) *''[[Andinophryne]]'' (Hoogmoed, 1985) *''[[Ansonia (genus)|Ansonia]]'' (Stoliczka, 1870) *''[[Atelophryniscus]]'' (McCranie, Wilson & Williams, 1989) *''[[Atelopus]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]] & [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], 1841) *''[[Bufo]]'' ([[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768) *''[[Bufoides]]'' (Pillai & Yazdani, 1973) *''[[Capensibufo]]'' (Grandison, 1980) *''[[Churamiti]]'' (Channing & Stanley, 2002) *''[[Crepidophryne]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1889) *''[[Dendrophryniscus]]'' (Jiménez de la Espada, 1871) *''[[Didynamipus]]'' (Andersson, 1903) *''[[Frostius]]'' (Cannatella, 1986) *''[[Laurenhryne]]'' (Tihen, 1960) *''[[Leptophryne]]'' ([[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1843) *''[[Melanophryniscus]]'' (Gallardo, 1961) *''[[Mertensophryne]]'' (Tihen, 1960) *''[[Metaphryniscus]]'' (Señaris, Ayarzagüena & Gorzula, 1994) *''[[Nectophryne]]'' (Buchholz & [[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], 1875) *''[[Nectophrynoides]]'' ([[Gladwyn Kingsley Noble|Noble]], 1926) *''[[Nimbaphrynoides]]'' (Dubois, 1987) *''[[Oreophrynella]]'' ([[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1895) *''[[Osornophryne]]'' (Ruiz-Carranza & Hernández-Camacho, 1976) *''[[Parapelophryne]]'' (Fei, Ye & Jiang, 2003) *''[[Pedostibes]]'' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1876) *''[[Pelophryne]]'' ([[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]], 1938) *''[[Pseudobufo]]'' ([[Johann Jakob von Tschudi|Tschudi]], 1838) *''[[Rhamphophryne]]'' (Trueb, 1971) *''[[Schismaderma]]'' (Smith, 1849) *''[[Spinophrynoides]]'' (Dubois, 1987) *''[[Stephopaedes]]'' (Channing, 1979) *''[[Truebella]]'' (Graybeal & Cannatella, 1995) *''[[Werneria]]'' (Poche, 1903) *''[[Wolterstorffina]]'' ([[Robert Mertens|Mertens]], 1939) === Other toad families === '''Family [[Bombinatoridae]]''' ([[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825) - Fire-bellied Toads: *''[[Barbourula]]'' (Taylor & Noble, 1924) *''[[Bombina]]'' ([[Lorenz Oken|Oken]], 1816) '''Family [[Brachyctpoephalidae]]''' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1858) - Shield Toads: *''[[Brachycephalus]]'' ([[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1826) '''Family [[Discoglossidae]]''' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1858) *''[[Alytes]]'' ([[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], 1830) - Midwife Toad '''Family [[Microhylidae]]''' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1858) *Subfamily [[Microhylinae]] - Narrowmouthed Toads: **''[[Gastrophryne]]'' ([[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1843) '''Family [[Pelobatidae]]''' ([[Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1850) - European Spadefoot Toads: *''[[Pelobates]]'' ([[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], 1830) '''Family [[Scaphiopodidae]]''' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1865) - North American Spadefoot Toads: *''[[Scaphiopus]]'' ([[John Edwards Holbrook|Holbrook]], 1836) *''[[Spea]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1866) '''Family [[Rhinophrynidae]]''' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1859) - Burrowing Toads: *''[[Rhinophrynus]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]] and [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], 1841) ==Other== [[Image:Toadlarcomuseum.jpg|thumb|right|Moche Toad. 200 A.D. [[Larco Museum|Larco Museum Collection]] Lima, Peru.]] The [[Moche]] people of ancient [[Peru]] worshipped animals and often depicted toads in their art. <ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames and Hudson]], 1997.</ref> To [[Vietnamese people]], toad is the uncle of the Sky. According to a Vietnamese ancient story, whenever toads grind their teeth, it is going to rain. It is commonly believed that physical contact with a toad can cause warts on humans. Warts are, in actuality, caused by an internal viral infection; thus, a toad could not possibly cause a wart. The paratoidal glands, which toads use to secrete poison for protection, are often mistaken for warts. This misconception could very conceivably have brought about such a superstition. == References == <references/> *{{ITIS|ID=173423|taxon=Anura|year=2006|date=4 May}} == See also == * [[List of frogs and toads by state (U.S.)]] == General reference == * {{cite book|last=Beltz|first=Ellin| year=2005| title=Frogs: Inside their Remarkable World| publisher=Firefly Books| id=ISBN 1552978699}} ==External links== *[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19028712?GT1=10056 Toad with fluorescent purple markings discovered] [[Category:Frogs by classification]] [[Category:Toads|*]] [[bg:Крастави жаби (семейство)]] [[da:Tudser]] [[de:Kröten (Familie)]] [[es:Bufonidae]] [[fr:Bufonidae]] [[gl:Sapo]] [[hak:Hà-mà]] [[ko:두꺼비류]] [[he:קרפדות (קבוצה)]] [[lt:Rupūžės]] [[ms:Katak puru]] [[nah:Tamazolin]] [[nl:Padden]] [[no:Padder]] [[pl:Ropuchowate]] [[pt:Sapo]] [[qu:Hamp'atu]] [[ru:Жабы]] [[vi:Cóc]] [[th:คางคก]] [[fi:Konnat]] [[zh:蟾蜍]] [[zh-yue:蛤乸]] [[simple:Toad]]