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South American common toad facts for kids

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South American common toad
Bufo margaritifer02.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Synonyms

Bufo margaritifer (Laurenti, 1768)

The South American common toad (Rhinella margaritifera) is a type of toad found in South America. It's also known as the mitred toad. These toads belong to the Bufonidae family.

You can find them across the Amazon region of South America. This includes countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. They also live in eastern Panama.

Scientists first thought this was just one type of toad. But now we know it's actually a group of many very similar toad species. This group is called a species complex.

Where These Toads Live

The South American common toad lives in different kinds of forests. These include both old, untouched forests and newer forests that have grown back. They like tropical moist forests, whether they are on high ground or areas that flood sometimes.

These toads are very adaptable. This means they can live in many places. You can even find them in areas that have been changed by people.

Many Kinds of Toads in One Group

The South American common toad is not just one species. It's a "species complex." This means it's a group of many different toad species that look very much alike. Scientists are still studying them to figure out exactly how many there are.

As of 2013, scientists had officially named 16 different species within this group. There are likely even more species that haven't been named yet! Each of these is a unique type of toad.

Here are some of the species that are part of this complex:

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