True toads facts for kids
Quick facts for kids True toadsTemporal range: Paleocene – Recent 57 mya to present
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Common Toad or European Toad, Bufo bufo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Bufonidae
Gray, 1825
|
| Genera | |
|
|
|
 |
|
| Distribution of Bufonidae (in black) | |
Bufonidae is the scientific name for a group of animals called "true toads." These toads are a type of family in the animal kingdom. There are over 35 different groups, called genera, within this family. True toads are very well known and can be found almost everywhere on Earth.
You can find true toads on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They live in many places, including rain forests.
Contents
What Makes True Toads Special?
True toads have some unique features. Unlike many other animals, they do not have any teeth. Their skin often looks bumpy, like it has warts.
Toad Defenses
On the back of a toad's head, you'll find a pair of special bumps. These are called parotoid glands. These glands can release a mild poison when the toad feels stressed or threatened. This poison is a type of alkaloid. Toads also have other toxins, like something called Bufotoxin. These chemicals help protect them from predators.
Male Toads and Bidder's Organ
Male toads have a special organ called a Bidder's organ. This organ is usually inactive. However, if conditions are just right, this organ can become an active ovary. If this happens, the male toad can actually change and become a female toad!
Life Cycle of Toads
Most true toads lay their eggs in long strings in the water. These eggs will then hatch and grow into tadpoles. Tadpoles are the young, aquatic stage of a toad's life. They live in water and breathe with gills.
However, there is one special group of toads, the Nectophrynoides genus, that is different. Their young do not go through a tadpole stage. Instead, they develop directly into small toads inside the mother.
Where Do True Toads Live?
True toads are found all over the world. They live in many different types of environments. You can find them in hot, wet rain forests and even in drier areas. The map in the infobox shows where the Bufonidae family lives around the globe.
Toad Families and Types
The Bufonidae family includes about 500 different species of toads. These species are grouped into about 37 different genera. Some well-known genera include Bufo, which has about 150 species, and Atelopus, known as Stubfoot Toads. Each genus has its own unique characteristics and habitats.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Bufónidos para niños
