Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Common (American) toad
In speaking of “toads” here, only three species are involved. Shakespeare was undoubtedly writing
about the common toad of Great Britain
(Bufo bufo),
and this chapter is mostly devoted to the common
or American toad
(Bufo americanus),
which is nearly identical to the British common toad. Wood-
house's toad
(Bufo woodhousii),
also known in the West as the “common toad,” is likewise quite similar
to these two. There are many other toads, however—approximately three hundred species worldwide
and eighteen species in North America—a number of them vastly different from the common toad.
Many of the North American species are in the Southwest, but the misnamed horned toad isn't one of
them; rather, it's a little lizard, spiny-looking but harmless.
As if the nasty things already cited weren't sufficiently defamatory, further indignity has been heaped
on the toad by accusing it of causing warts—a folk superstition that many still believe. Toads, of course,
have nothing whatever to do with human warts, which are caused by a virus. The toad's so-called warts
are not warts at all, but glands that have a defensive purpose. These glands, especially the two large
ones behind the eyes, give off a slightly poisonous substance that makes the toad quite unpalatable to
many predators.
This poison is far too mild to harm humans who handle toads, although it might sting a little if it gets
into a person's eyes. Therefore, it's advisable to wash one's hands after handling a toad—but not be-
cause of any danger of warts! Incidentally, those two large glands behind the toad's eyes are sometimes
mistakenly referred to as parotid glands. Parotid glands are salivary glands in mammals; the toad's two
prominent glands are properly called
parotoid
glands (pronounced
pah-ROH-toid.
)
If one examines a toad carefully, with an open mind, the creature ceases to be ugly and exhibits some
rather attractive characteristics. On closer inspection, its seemingly drab exterior becomes a handsome
mosaic of colors on the upper side, ranging from tan to terra cotta to rich, dark browns, while black and
shades of gray lend further variety to this pattern. The underparts, by contrast, are a nice cream color
with some black spotting. In addition, the toad's gold-rimmed eyes are very lovely. Despite its squat
shape and warty appearance, the common toad is far from ugly!
