Subdesert toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Subdesert Toad |
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Bufo wazae Hulselmans, 1977 |
The subdesert toad (Amietophrynus xeros) is a type of toad. It belongs to the Bufonidae family. You can find this toad in many parts of Africa. These include Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Western Sahara. It might also live in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, and Nigeria.
This toad lives in dry places. Its homes include dry savannas and dry shrubland. It also lives in dry lowland grasslands. You can find it near rivers that sometimes dry up. It likes temporary freshwater marshes and freshwater springs. Hot deserts and arable land (farmed land) are also its homes.
Experts check on how many subdesert toads there are. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is of "least concern". This means there are plenty of them, and they are not in danger.
What Does It Look Like?
The subdesert toad is a medium-sized toad. It has a wide head and a rounded nose. Its back has bumpy spots. These spots are shaped like cones and have black tips.
The toad's color can be different shades. It might be cream, light gray, or dark brown. It has three pairs of dark markings on its back. These markings are even on both sides. There are also other dark spots. Its belly is usually cream-colored. It can have different amounts of darker spots there.
Female toads have light-colored throats. Male toads have darker throats. Males also have special sacs on their throats. These are called vocal sacs and help them make sounds. Males can also have some red spots on their outer thighs.
How Does It Live?
The subdesert toad lives in very dry areas. It can sleep for long periods. This sleep helps it survive when it's very dry. This special sleep is called aestivation.
In northwestern Africa, these toads are active from September to March. They breed in September and October. The females lay their eggs in temporary ponds. They also lay eggs in pools found in river beds. This toad is mostly active at night. It hunts for small creatures to eat. Its diet includes spiders, beetles, and other insects.
