This is also true, they are family Megophryidae, but since they are commonly called toads I lump them in for Toad Facts. I do the same with others like Microhylidae as well.

Technically both, because all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads!

Pretty sure you’re only going to find these with a serious hike into the rainforests of Brazil!

Yep! All of the toads in genus Brachycephalus are tiny like this, which is why many of them are called Flea Toads! The orange ones are often collectively called Pumpkin Toads!

As adults, our friend the African Tree Toad lays their eggs inside the water filled cavities of plants! The male stays around and protects the eggs while kicking at the water, presumably to keep the water aerated! (photo by Maël Dewynter)

You can eat anything once!

Some pumpkin toads produce tetrodotoxin, similar to the neurotoxin found in pufferfish!

Some of them also have bones that glow in UV light!

I think so, I’m pretty sure it’s not taught to them! 🐸

There are many amphibians that perform the unken reflex! Certain salamanders and frogs do it too! Not all of them are toxic! They’re just saying “Puff up! Puff up! They hate that!”

These only live in Italy and the Balearic Islands, though there are other Green toads found throughout Europe! We have a Green Toad in the mid US but no red spots!

There is also the Red-spotted toad, Anaxyrus punctatus, covered in red spots, but they live in the Southwestern US and Baja Mexico!

I've been meaning to spend some time talking about the major reasons for so many toad species becoming extinct! I'll get around to that eventually, but the leading causes are human encroachment, climate change, and a fungal disease called chytridiomycosis!

Several toads in genus Atelopus are toxic to some extent, but I haven't found anything specific about Atelopus pachydermus! In any case, it's generally a bad idea to eat things with bright aposematic coloration!

Thanks! I’ve always felt it’s important to source images ethically, leaning towards Creative Commons images and otherwise asking permission! Credits are necessary! Ever since joining Bluesky alt text is too! Mastodon posts via a homemade bot but here it’s just me, usually scrambling last minute!

Love you back!

Also, we’ve always thought calling them “Bufo toad” is silly because it just means “toad toad”, and we already have Bufo bufo, the European Common Toad!

Interestingly enough, there have been taxonomic changes and the Cane Toad is now categorized under genus Rhinella, the South American beaked toads, under family Bufonidae! They are officially Rhinella marina!

The toad in your photo has their large parotoid glands and shield shaped head crest!