Mongolian toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mongolian toad |
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The Mongolian toad (Strauchbufo raddei) is a type of toad found in Asia. People also call it the piebald toad or the Siberian sand toad. It belongs to the family called Bufonidae.
This toad is special because it only lives in northeastern Asia. Scientists have changed its official name a few times. It used to be in the Bufo group, then Pseudepidalea, and now it has its very own group called Strauchbufo.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this toad, raddei, honors a German scientist named Gustav Radde. He was a naturalist, which means he studied nature.
Where Do Mongolian Toads Live?
Mongolian toads live across a large area in northern China, Mongolia, and the Russian Far East. You can also find them in North Korea. They are very common near the Amur River, which flows through China and Russia.
What Do Mongolian Toads Look Like?
The Mongolian toad is a fairly small toad. Adult toads usually grow to be about 9 centimeters (or 3.5 inches) long from their snout to their rear end.
Where Do Mongolian Toads Make Their Home?
These toads can live in many different places. They often prefer dry areas, especially those with sandy soil. The first Mongolian toads ever studied were found in the Alashan desert.
They do not live in very high places, staying below 2,700 meters (about 8,850 feet). They also avoid very low areas, not going below 600 meters (about 1,970 feet). The toads found furthest north live on Olkhon Island in Russia's Lake Baikal.
Mongolian toads are quite unique because they can even go into salty water. Most amphibians cannot do this.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The mating season for Mongolian toads happens between March and July. The exact time depends on the weather where they live. Female toads lay their eggs in shallow puddles. Sadly, many tadpoles do not survive because these puddles can dry up quickly.
When winter comes, Mongolian toads hibernate. This means they go into a deep sleep to save energy. They usually dig holes in the ground, sometimes as deep as 2 meters (about 6.5 feet), and hibernate together in groups.
What Do Mongolian Toads Eat?
When they are grown up, Mongolian toads love to eat ants. This is especially true in dry areas where ants are a common food source. They also enjoy eating spiders and beetles.
Images for kids
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A Mongolian toad in its natural habitat.
