African red toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African red toad |
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The African red toad (also called Schismaderma carens) is a cool type of toad. It's part of the Bufonidae family, which includes many different toads. This toad is special because it's the only species in its group, called Schismaderma. You might also hear it called the African split-skin toad.
These toads live in many countries in Africa. You can find them in places like Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They might also live in Lesotho.
African red toads like to live in many different places. They can be found in dry savannas, wet shrublands, and grasslands. They also like wet areas such as marshes, ponds, and even canals. Sometimes, they live near farms or in urban areas too!
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What Does the African Red Toad Look Like?
The African red toad is a fairly large toad. Adult toads can grow to be about 90 millimeters (about 3.5 inches) long. Female toads are usually a little bigger than the males.
Their skin on top is a reddish-brown color. They have two dark brown spots on their shoulders. You can also see another pair of dark spots on their lower back.
These toads have a special ridge on their sides. This ridge runs from behind their eye (near their eardrum, called the tympanum) all the way to their back leg. The bottom edge of this ridge is often darker. Some toads have dark sides, while others have lighter sides.
Where Do African Red Toads Live?
African red toads are found in the southern part of Africa. Their home stretches from Tanzania and southern Kenya. It goes south through the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo and eastern Angola. They are also found all the way down to South Africa.
These toads live in many different kinds of places. They can be found in open grasslands and savannahs with trees. They also live in areas used for farming. When it's time to have babies, they like to breed in deep lakes, ponds, and pools of water.
How Do African Red Toads Live?
Male African red toads make calls from the surface of deep, still water. They do this during the middle of summer. This is how they attract females.
Female toads lay their eggs in the water. The eggs come out in two long strings. These strings of eggs might get tangled in plants that are underwater.
The baby toads, called tadpoles, like to stay together. They often form large, thick groups or swarms in the water. It takes about 37 to 52 days for the tadpoles to grow. After this time, they change into young toads, a process called metamorphosis.
See also
In Spanish: Schismaderma carens para niños
Images for kids
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An African red toad in South Africa.
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Map showing where African red toads live in Africa.
