Common Name:
Smooth-sided Toad / Spotted Toad
Scientific Name:
Bufo buttatus / Rhaebo guttatus
Wild Status:
Least Concern
Habitat:
Tropical & Sub Tropical regions
Country:
Across South America
Shelter:
Under leaf litter / in hollowed logs
Life Span:
Roughly 10 years
Size:
3-6 inches on average
Cool Facts:
- Have a brown back with dark brown legs.
- Nocturnal
- Their short limbs make them poor at jumping, unlike many of their frog cousins.
- Females are larger than males, some can grow up to 10 inches
- Their main line of defense is a toxin called "bufotoxin" - they secrete this from a gland behind their eyes, and it can cause heart failure in humans if they are ingested.
- Like it's name, they are one of the few toads that actually do have smooth skin.
- Generally carnivores, known to eat insects and small mammals even.
- Females can lay up to 10,000 eggs after they mate.
Details:
The Smooth-Sided Toad is a small amphibian generally found across South America, in countries like Brazil, Columbia, Peru, and more. These toads do indeed have a toxin called "bufotoxin" as their main defense against any predators who want to take a bite of them. Like most toads, and unlike frogs, these guys don't have to live near a source of water - however it's still very important for their daily life, and it's best to give them a water bowl to stay wet when in captivity. Smooth-sided toads are generally docile when trained and ok with human interaction - however, like all amphibians, they have very delicate semi-permeable skin. It's important not to wear heavy cologne or have any chemicals on your hands when handling them.
Taxonomic Breakdown:
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Bufo Species: B. guttatus