What do toads eat in the garden. Lake frog, moor and grass frog

Almost every corner of the planet is inhabited by amphibians. On the the globe There are over 5,000 species of frogs. The most suitable habitats for them: tropics, fields and meadows with high humidity, swamps, reservoirs with fresh water. What do frogs eat in nature? Depending on the habitat, several of their species are distinguished - those that live:

• only on land;
• exclusively in water;
• on land and in water;
• on trees (can fly in a jump at a distance of up to 15 m).

But, regardless of species, all frogs start life in the water.

Tadpole food

Female frogs lay eggs on algae, hanging them in the form of long threads. After a certain time, tadpoles hatch from the eggs, leading a fish life - they swim in the water and breathe with gills. Frog larvae feed mainly on plant foods:

• seaweed;
• Tina;
• soft parts of underwater plants;
• ciliates.

Some species of tadpoles are predators and feed on crustacean larvae or insect eggs.

What do predator frogs eat

In order to provide itself with food, an adult frog uses its tongue. This organ in amphibians, long and forked at the end, is covered with a sticky substance. In the mouth, the tongue fits freely and, if necessary, shoots forward, catching approaching food. Many frogs have no teeth, or they are only in the front jaw, so they have to swallow food whole. It is easy to guess what frogs eat insects, small animals and fish. The adult diet includes:

• mosquitoes;
• flies;
• spiders;
• caterpillars and snails;
• small crustaceans;
• moths of some fish.

Large frogs, in the absence of a sufficient number of insects, can eat little mouse. And severe hunger can force an adult frog to eat its own small relatives.

Amphibians hunt for moving prey, sitting quietly in a shelter. After the food sticks to the tongue, the frog pushes it down the esophagus with its paws and blinking eyes.

What does the grass frog eat

Common frogs spend almost their entire lives on dry patches of land. The diet of a herbaceous individual varies depending on its life cycle. Adult species are predators and feed on invertebrates:

• insects;
• snails;
• worms.

The tadpoles of this species of amphibians are herbivores. Absorb algae, mud and certain types of plants as food. But among them there are individuals that feed on other species of animals.

"Diet" of toads

Toads, unlike frogs, which hunt during the day, get their food at dusk and at night. This species has a great appetite, they are ready to eat:

• insects;
• shellfish;
• caterpillars and worms;
• bedbugs.

Toads are one of the few animal species that feed on slugs. Researchers have found that more than 60% of the insects that toads eat are pests of agricultural plants.

What does the lake frog eat?

This species of amphibian spends its entire life in water. But still, food is often obtained on land. In the lake, its prey is:

• crustaceans;
• small fish;
• relatives;
• newts.

On land, this is a real voracious predator with a huge mouth. The lake frog usually does not move far from the water. Its prey on land are: insects, lizards, snakes, mice, chicks. Unlike ordinary amphibious frogs, the lake frog does not sit still, at the sight of prey, it slowly creeps up to it, and if necessary, it can jump high, land next to the victim and grab it with lightning speed.

Thus, what frogs eat depends on their species and habitat. But amphibians are practically the same. AT winter time frogs sleep by hiding under snags, in burrows, or in dry grass.

Frogs are cute little critters that can be made into unusual and useful pets. However, there are quite a few types of frogs that require some care. Use this article as a general guide to choosing and caring for your pet frogs, but be prepared to do a lot of in-depth research on the specific frog species you choose.

Steps

Part 1

1. To get started, check out some suitable frog breeds. The first thing to understand when it comes to frogs is that there is a huge variety available species. Some of them are easy to take care of, while taking care of others will require a lot of time and special knowledge. If this is your first pet frog, we strongly recommend that you choose the right breed for beginners. Here are some options:

   • African pygmy frog. This is a great option for beginners because these frogs are small, active and easy to care for. They do not require live food and constant presence in the water.
   • Far Eastern toad. These frogs are a good option for beginners who want a terrestrial (not aquatic) frog. They are quite active and do not grow too large.
   • Coral tree frog. It's woody white frog, perhaps the easiest tree frog to handle. These frogs are active, easy to feed and even handle from time to time (which is unusual for frogs).
   • Pacman. These are large, ground frogs that are easy to care for. They tend to be quite sedentary life, which reduces their space requirements, but it can make them a boring pet for kids.
   • As a beginner, you should avoid poisonous frogs or toads, which are also expensive. poisonous frogs frogs tend to be quite fragile and difficult to care for, while the more expensive frogs are a risky choice for people who are new to caring for them. It is better to start with an inexpensive simple breed and gradually work your way up.

2. Do not keep wild frogs as pets. While it is possible to catch wild frogs to keep as pets, there are a few things you should pay attention to first.

   • First, it can be difficult to determine what kind of frog you have caught. Different types of frogs have very different requirements in terms of food, temperature and habitat, so if you keep a wild frog in the wrong conditions, it can die.
   • If you choose to adopt a frog from the wild, be sure to take into account the environment in which you found it. Maybe it was a leafy, grassy area, or maybe a frog was hiding under a stone or swimming in a pond? Such conditions, most likely, will need to be created for her at home.
   • However, you should still try to determine the exact species of your frog by looking up a picture of it on the Internet, reading books about frogs, or consulting a local naturalist. This will help you determine the exact requirements for its content.
   • Secondly, many frog species found in the wild are on the verge of declining populations or even extinction. Taking the frog out natural environment can harm its wild population, especially if it is an endangered species.
   • In fact, taking a protected species from the wild is illegal in some areas, so be sure to check the country's laws before bringing a frog home.

3. Consider the size of the frog and the amount of space it needs. The size of your frog (when it gets stronger) and the size of the tank to keep it in are the main factors when choosing a frog.

   • Sometimes, tiny frogs at the pet store grow into giant monsters. For example, elves (a type of frog whose name suggests diminutiveness) initially measure only 2.5 cm in length, and then can grow more than 20 cm.
   • Large frogs require a lot of space. For example, a fully grown frog will need a 75 liter aquarium or even more. If the frog lives in a small aquarium, it may be unhappy and sick.
   • Large aquariums take up a lot of space in the house and require a lot of effort to keep clean. These frogs also eat more food, making them more expensive to feed than smaller frog species.
   • This is another reason to do your research and find out the exact breed of frog before you buy one.

4. Consider the nutritional requirements of a frog. Before you jump head first into buying a cute (or ugly, depending on your preference) frog from the store, you should take the time to find out what it eats.

   • Most frog species enjoy eating crickets, worms (such as red wigglers and nocturnal caterpillars), and other creepy creatures. However, it's important to remember that frogs generally prefer live food, especially if you're squeamish about this sort of thing.
   • Larger frogs often require more substantial food, which may include mice, goldfish, or guppies. It takes a lot of work to provide your frog with this kind of nutrition, and it's not for the faint of heart!
   • In addition, you need to think about where you will get food for your frog from. Your local grocery store probably doesn't sell live crickets! Do you have large pet stores nearby where you can buy exotic pet supplies?
   • Of course, it is possible to find frog food in the back garden, but this can be quite time consuming and highly unreliable. In addition, garden pests are often subjected to chemical treatment and it will be bad for your frog.

5. Find out how active your frog species is. Another important factor is the activity level of your frog species. This is especially important if you want to get a frog for kids, as most kids want an animal to play with.

   • Many large, cold or odd-looking frogs are a popular choice among beginner paddling pools, however these frogs tend to be the least active and just sit still like a statue and sleep all day long. It can get boring pretty quickly.
   • If you are looking for more active view frogs, it is better to choose small frogs, water frogs and some types of tree frogs, as they often jump or swim, which makes watching them more interesting.
   • You should also keep in mind that even the most active frogs will do nothing but jump around or eat crickets. You can't take a frog for a walk, teach it tricks, or do anything else with it. So it's important to decide for yourself if a frog is really the perfect pet for you (or your child).

6. Understand that keeping a frog at home is a commitment. It is important to understand that caring for her is not the same as caring for a goldfish. Most frogs that are well cared for can live up to 25 years.

   • Therefore, you must be prepared to take care of your frog for many years, feed it, keep it clean, and take care of it when it is sick.
   • You should also think about what to do with her during your holidays, who will take care of her during your absence. Volunteers can be hard to find, especially if your frog only eats live crickets or even mice!
   • If you have a frog but find it too much work or too much expense to take care of, you need to know the channels through which you can get rid of it.
   • If you have selected a wild frog from your yard or local park, you should be able to release it in the same place where you found it. Leave the frog as close to the original location as possible, whether it was under leaves on forest floor or next to a stream.
   • However, if you bought the frog from a store and it's not a local species, you can't just release it in wildlife. You will need to take the frog back to the pet store, sell it to a new owner, donate the frog to a local school in the animal corner, or contact the nearest animal care organization.

7. Find out if you need a license. In some places, you are required to have a license to keep certain kind frogs as pets, especially if they are endangered or poisonous.

   • Contact your local government office for additional information about licensing requirements in your region.

   Part 2

   Housing your frog

   1. Find out what kind of tank your frog needs. Different types of frogs need very different "houses", so do your research first before buying one.

      • Ground tanks are the simplest frog "houses" but should only be used for frog species that live in dry environments.
      • Water tanks. This type of "house" is used only for purely aquatic frog species, mainly water tanks, such as aquatic fish gardens.
      • 50/50 is the most common type of frog house, where half is filled with water and the other half is dry. Most frogs will do well in such an environment.
      • The tree tank is designed specifically for tree frogs that prefer to climb on branches. These tanks tend to be taller and narrower than other types.
      • Pond. In some situations, you may want to keep native frog species in a pond in your yard. Sometimes a simple backyard pond will attract local frogs and you won't need to catch them! However, you should never keep non-native species in open water, as they can disrupt the local ecosystem by feeding on native frogs and other endangered insects.

   2. Place the tank in a suitable location. If you have a tank, you must decide where to put it.

      • You should always keep the "house" away from direct sun rays, as this can raise the temperature and make the "house" uncomfortable (and possibly dangerous), dry and hot inside.
      • The "house" should be kept away from the kitchen, as smoke and other fumes from cooking can be harmful to the frog.
      • You should also be careful not to expose the tank to any aerosols (such as paint in the garage or hairspray in the bedroom) as these can penetrate the frog's skin and potentially affect its health.

   3. Fill in the house the right material as a substrate. Underlayment is the material used to cover the underside of the house. The main thing here is to determine whether the substrate should be wet or dry and how easy it is to clean.

      • Gravel is a good option for most common frog species. It is easy to clean and easy to get to different colors and sizes. Other good options include soil, pine bark, sand, and cedar or pine shavings.
      • Once the substrate materials are in place, you can install the decorations inside! You can cover the gravel with a layer of moss, which will make the house look much more natural. Just make sure the moss is wet by spraying it with clean fresh water as often as you can and don't forget to keep an eye on its shape.
      • Putting a few stones inside the "house" is also a good option, as this will enable the frog to climb onto something. Just make sure the rocks don't have sharp edges that could hurt her.
      • You can also decorate the "house" with plastic plants or small living ones, while a hollow container will provide a good place for shelter. Buy or make a colorful backdrop for your aquarium, such as a tropical forest as this will help keep the frog feeling at home.

   4. Find out the temperature and light requirements of your frog. The temperature and heating requirements for frogs vary considerably, depending on the species, so make sure you do your homework before setting up a house.

      • Unlike lizards, snakes, and turtles, most frogs don't require any special lighting because they get required amount vitamin D through food.
      • However, it is necessary to provide a source of light for up to 12 hours a day, especially if the "lodge" does not have access to natural light.
      • A fluorescent light is the safest option for frogs as it doesn't get too hot. Hot lights can be dangerous if the frog decides to jump on them.
      • In terms of heating, the ideal temperature for your frog will depend on its species. The easiest way to change the temperature inside the tank is to change the temperature in the entire room.
      • In addition, you can buy heating lamps (which should be on the outside of the "house") or a heating pad (which can be wrapped around the "house" on the outside) to raise the temperature inside.
      • If you need to heat water in all or part of the "house", you must purchase a glass tube or a fully submersible water heater.
      • Make sure you can operate the heater for a couple of days before putting the frog in the "house". This will allow you to control the temperature. Make sure this is the best way for the frog.

   Part 3

   Feeding and caring for the frog

   1. Feed the frog crickets (and other creepy creatures). As mentioned above, the most common frog species eat crickets, worms, and other insects, while larger frogs also eat mice or goldfish as an occasional treat.

      • How much and how often to feed a frog will depend on each individual frog and can be determined by trial and error at first.
      • To get started, try feeding your frog three crickets a day. If she quickly eats all three and looks hungry for the next few days, you can increase the number of crickets. However, if she only eats one or two and ignores the others, the dose can be reduced.
      • You can also experiment with different types of food, such as mealworms, waxworms, and grasshoppers, to see what your frog likes best. Water frogs usually eat frozen bloodworm or Artemia.

   2. Keep your frog clean and hydrated. It is very important to provide the frog daily clean water which she will use for drinking and bathing.

      • Frogs absorb water through their skin instead of drinking. As a result, they spend long periods of time just sitting in their water baths or pools. This water should be dechlorinated if possible.
      • You will also need to clean the house every couple of days to remove any droppings, wipe down the bottom of the tank, check for mold or algae, and maintain a healthy environment.

The name of these animals is well known to everyone, but the true appearance of toads is unknown to many. The fact is that toads are often confused with other tailless amphibians - frogs, toads, garlic bugs, tree frogs. In many languages, there is no clear division into toads and frogs at all, but in Russian, this word means amphibians from the family of real toads and midwife toads from the round-speaking family. A total of 304 species of toads are known.

Jungle toad (Bufo calamita).

The general physique of toads is typical of tailless amphibians. Their head is large, the body is slightly flattened, the limbs are located on the sides of the body and have swimming membranes between the fingers, and only tadpoles have a tail, adults are tailless. Toads are characterized by the absence of teeth in the upper jaw. Their limbs are much shorter than those of frogs, so these animals do not jump well. On the front paws of males there are small tubercles - marriage calluses, males use them to hold the female during mating. In general, toads, compared to frogs, look more overweight, even obese. The size different types of these amphibians varies from 2.5 cm in the black-chested toad to 20-27 cm in the cane toad, and the weight ranges from a few grams to 1 kg. In toads, males are always smaller than females.

Malayan toad (Bufo melanostictus).

One more hallmark toads is warty skin and large parotid glands - parotids. The skin and glands secrete a secret that not only prevents the skin from drying out, but often contains poisonous substances. The degree of toxicity of this secret in different species is different: some species are practically harmless, the secret of others is unpleasant for predators and scares them away, some species have a highly toxic secret that is deadly to vertebrates. The unattractive appearance of toad skin has led to the prejudice that warts appear from touching it. There is no scientific truth in this statement, toads cannot provoke the appearance of warts, since this is an infectious disease and is caused by a virus. The color of most species of toads is nondescript - brown, gray, black, often with a spotted pattern. This color perfectly masks the toads against the background of the earth, foliage and bottom silt. But tropical species with a poisonous or irritating secret often have a bright color with spots of yellow, red, orange. In this case, the color plays a warning role and scares off the predator even before he wants to taste the prey.

American toad (Anaxyrus americanus, or Bufo americanus) rare white form.

The habitat of various species of toads covers almost all continents, except for Antarctica and Australia. However, the aga toad was introduced to Australia and many oceanic islands, which successfully developed new lands. Now we can say that there are no places left on the planet where these animals do not occur. The habitats of toads are very diverse, of course, most species live in wet places- swamps, river backwaters, rainforests, but there are also those who settle in arid areas and even deserts. In this case, toads hide in crevices between stones and cracks in the soil. Wherever these amphibians live, everywhere they are associated with water bodies (at least drying up), because their caviar can only develop in water.

As a rule, toads are found singly, but during breeding and in areas rich in food, they can form large aggregations. In general, toads are inactive: they are not as jumpy as frogs and prefer to move with clumsy steps. In case of danger, the toad escapes by jumping, but often takes a special defensive posture - it rises high on its legs and arches its back with a hump. Interestingly, this behavior is characteristic of toads and is not found in their relatives - frogs.

Common or common toad (Bufo bufo) in a threatening posture.

However, among the tropical species of toads there are dodgers living on ... trees. tree species Toads just have much in common with tree frogs, their tenacious paws with suction cups on the fingertips seem to glue the toad to the surface of the leaf. Another remarkable ability of these amphibians: it turns out that toads have permanent habitats and, carried away for several tens of meters, always return to their favorite hummock. Toads are more active at night than during the day. Species living in temperate zone for the winter they fall into anabiosis (hibernation), while the animals clog into secluded cracks, hide under fallen leaves and in the litter.

Toads feed mainly on invertebrates: insects and their larvae, slugs, snails, worms, less often fish fry. Large species of toads can eat more impressive prey - small rodents, lizards, young snakes. Toads lie in wait for their prey, sitting motionless in one place. They receive signals from the optic nerve mainly in the subcortical part of the brain, so toads reflexively react only to moving objects, and they also poorly distinguish movements in one plane (vibrations of blades of grass, for example).

Cane toad, or aha (Bufo marinus) eats an earthworm.

Toad breeding is seasonal and occurs in spring (in the temperate zone) or coincides with the rainy season (in the tropics). During the mating season, toads gather near water bodies. Males attract females with special sounds that vary greatly between species. Usually toads croak like frogs, but some species can "sing" more melodically.

The common toad, described in the article, is the largest toad in Europe. Scientists have long shown interest in this amphibian.

Appearance

Her color varies. The back can be from brown-gray to brown with black spots. The belly is off-white to yellow in color. In rare cases, you can find toads with red warts on their backs.

The body of the toad itself is wide and slightly flattened. There are no resonators in males. The skin is dry and bumpy. Also on the skin there are a small number of glands that secrete mucus. This feature allows toads to conserve water and not dry out at a considerable distance from water. Amphibians of this species perfectly tolerate moisture loss up to 30 percent of their body weight, this occurs due to evaporation during the hot time of the day. And every morning, during the dew, the toads bathe, replenishing their moisture reserves.

The eyes of the amphibian are orange with horizontal black pupils. It also has a third eyelid, which allows the toad to see clearly underwater.

The gray toad, the photo of which is presented in the article, has a poisonous secret. It is activated in case of danger, it is released from the tubercles behind the eyes.

The language is very interesting. It is placed in a joint at the front of the mouth. Ruled by instinct. It reacts to any movement that falls under the corresponding production parameters. Language Pink colour. Sticky for even better food retention.

The forelimbs are used to capture prey. And also to keep the male on the female during mating. There are no webbing on them. Swimming membranes are present only on the hind legs. They are much stronger and longer than the forelimbs.

Gray toad: breeding

The breeding season falls on April-May. And it lasts from 3 to 6 days. It all starts from the moment you wake up from hibernation. Males arrive at the reservoir and occupy a certain territory, which they protect from the encroachments of rivals. Then they begin to call the female with a prolonged croaking. Females usually appear two weeks later at the breeding site. When the gray toad chooses his chosen one, he enters his territory, and he climbs onto her back. It is fixed on it with the help of its front short and thick paws. During the breeding season, the membranes between the fingers in males are painted in a more saturated color. dark color. Only 1 male can mate with each female. This happens in shallow places, where they can spend hours under water at the bottom, surfacing only to replenish their air supplies. The male grabs the hind legs of the female with his front paws and at the same time makes grunting sounds and trills. After some time, adults leave the reservoir. Only the largest male remains there to guard the offspring.

Eggs and tadpoles

Spawning begins on a warm sunny day. Females are capable of producing from 600 to 4 thousand eggs. But from such a number of litters, usually 2-3 individuals survive to reproductive age. Caviar resembles cords that are wound around plants in ponds, on various branches, and so on.

The incubation period takes 10 days. Tadpoles are in large flocks of their own kind, which increases their chance of survival. They are not afraid of everything in a row, only strong splashes and fluctuations of water, as well as the death of a tribesman in the teeth of a predator. For the next 3 months, their life will depend only on the presence of mosquitoes and the temperature of the water. The young toads will then leave their birthplace. Moreover, their size is not more than 1 cm.

Behavioral features

An ordinary, or gray, toad is by nature a loner and lives in dry places: a forest, a park, a garden, etc. And only during the breeding season do amphibians make an exception, going down to the water. - nocturnal dwellers. In the daytime, they prefer to hide in the roots of trees, under blocks of stones, in grass, minks, in general, in any secluded, dark, quiet corner. Very active in rainy weather, especially at night. Due to their large size, they move with very slow and clumsy steps, and when life is threatened, they jump or puff up and stand in a protective aggressive pose.

Food

Each amphibian has its own small habitat, which they thoroughly search for food. These amphibians feed on invertebrates: bugs, bedbugs, worms, caterpillars, even newborn lizards, snakes and mice, and naked slugs are their favorite dish. Prey can be seen at a distance of up to three meters. They hunt with the help of their tongue, to which the victim sticks. If it is large, then the toad helps itself with the help of its front legs. Gray toads are very voracious, but even this fact does not allow them to eat dead animals.

The gray toad, whose lifestyle is of great interest to scientists, was a participant in an interesting experiment. Its purpose was to reveal aggression and hostility towards their relatives. The essence of the experience is quite simple. A leaf with honey was placed next to the toad. He attracted insects. A large accumulation of them aroused the interest of another toad. And she came to a foreign territory. The owner of the area did not react at all to this. The two of them began to enjoy their meal in peace. And even when they hunted the same insect, and one took away the prey from the other, this did not affect them in any way. outward behavior. They continued to eat quietly. This experience indicates that they are very peaceful and non-confrontational amphibians.

Is the gray toad a pet?

Gray toads are very easy to tame. They are trusting and unpretentious in food. For them, the main indicator of the edibility of food is its mobility. They are also great helpers in the garden.

hibernation

The gray toad among its relatives is the most resistant to cold. It hibernates only in September and October. It survives the winter in various places: under dry foliage, under logs, in pipes, sometimes it burrows into silt or pulls out minks on its own (which is extremely rare). Basically, toads use other people's minks for wintering. When the common toad climbs into a burrow, it blocks the entrance with earth, which prevents cold from entering from outside. Amphibians wake up at the end of March, at a temperature not lower than +5 degrees Celsius. Then they go to the breeding grounds.

natural enemies

She has enough enemies: these are birds of prey, and snakes, and hedgehogs, and rats. But the worst enemy is man. For many people, the common toad is an ugly, useless and even harmful animal. But this opinion is far from reality. They certainly do not shine with their beauty. They are poisonous, but this is only for protection purposes. After all, they simply physically cannot run away from their enemies. Because nature made them large and clumsy. Therefore, they compensated for their physical shortcomings with poisonous glands on the body. And from the point of view of benefits for humans, the toad is a very useful neighbor. It can eat up to 60% of pests in the garden and vegetable garden. The gray toad is a very valuable and useful ally for humans, although not the most beautiful. But in view of her nocturnal lifestyle, this is not scary.

Myths and truth

There are many legends about toads, which are based on their ability to secrete poison. And this confirms that the potions brewed by witches, healers or sorcerers always contained a part of a toad (its paw, for example). And that's why most people are afraid and kill toads. But this is far from justified violence. Toad venom, once on intact human skin, will not cause much harm. Only when it comes into contact with mucous membranes and damaged skin can it cause irritation, redness and slight inflammation. Therefore, in no case should you rub your eyes or put your hands in your mouth after contact with a toad, they must first be washed. And then there will be no unpleasant incidents.

There is nothing superfluous in nature, and the common toad is no exception.

Toads - what kind of animals. Photos of toads, a description of these tailless amphibians and the most Interesting Facts about toads in our article. And we will also answer the question: “are toads and frogs the same animal? Or is it still not?"

Who is this toad? Often this question is answered incorrectly, because few people know that real toads are not frogs, or tree frogs, or toads, so similar in appearance to toads.

At present, science has determined that toads are representatives of the round-tongued family (genus of the midwife toad) and the family of true toads. In total, there are about 304 species of these animals on Earth.

The appearance of toads is typical for all representatives of the order of tailless amphibians. These amphibians have a rather large head, their limbs are not under the body, but from the sides. The toad's body itself has a flattened shape. Unlike "long-legged" frogs, toads have comparatively short limbs. Males on the front legs are endowed by nature with small bulges - tubercles, or marriage calluses (they are necessary to keep the female during mating).

The size of toads can vary from 2.5 centimeters in length to 27 centimeters. The weight of these amphibians also has a wide variation: from several grams to one kilogram. Male toads are always smaller than females.

The skin of toads, and this is another significant hallmark, covered with warts. Toads also have parotid glands called patroids. By nature, toads are endowed with a unique property: their skin and patroids are able to secrete mucus, which can not only protect the skin from drying out, but also save the animal itself from the enemy (since the mucus is often poisonous).

If you touch a frog, then warts will appear: is this true? According to scientific studies, this is a myth, since the appearance of warts provokes a virus that clearly does not arise due to the unattractiveness of toad skin.

As for the color of toads, most often these animals have inconspicuous tones: brown, black, grayish. Spots are visible on the body. But this rule does not apply to tropical toads, which are also very poisonous. These amphibians can have skin of a variety of bright colors: red, orange and others. Such flashy colors warn the enemy that he himself can suffer if he wants to taste the toad.

Where do toads live?

These amphibians are distributed throughout the world, with the exception of the Australian continent and Antarctica. The exception is, artificially brought to the territory of the Green Continent and nearby islands. In nature, toads most often choose river backwaters, rainforests, swamps - that is, humid and not too hot places. Sometimes trees can serve as a home for a toad.

For the winter, these animals hibernate, climbing into a secluded place: under fallen leaves or in natural shelters.

What does a toad eat?

The basis of the nutrition of toads is insects and their larvae, worms, mollusks (snails), fish fry. More large species toads allow themselves to feast on small rodents, young snakes and lizards.

toad breeding

Males attract females with the help of reproducible sound effects, the so-called singing. The voice sacs that males have are capable of amplifying the sound at times so that the future chosen one will definitely hear it.