Toad

Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family

Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, Toad
and large bumps covering the parotoid glands.[1][2]

A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scientific

taxonomy, but is common in popular culture (folk taxonomy), in
which toads are associated with drier, rougher skin and more
terrestrial habitats.[3]

European fire-bellied toad (Bombina

Contents
bombina)
Biology
Scientific classification
Cultural depictions
Kingdom: Animalia
See also
Phylum: Chordata
References
External links Class: Amphibia
Clade: Salientia
Order: Anura
Biology
Merrem, 1820
In scientific taxonomy, toads are found in the families Bufonidae, Families
Bombinatoridae, Calyptocephalellidae, Discoglossidae,
Myobatrachidae, Pelobatidae, Rhinophrynidae, Scaphiopodidae
List of Anuran families
and Microhylidae.[4]

Usually the largest of the bumps on the skin of a toad are those
that cover the parotoid glands. The bumps are commonly called warts, but they have nothing to do with
pathologic warts, being fixed in size, present on healthy specimens and not caused by infection.[5] Toads
travel from non-breeding to breeding areas of ponds and lakes. Bogert (1947) suggests that the toads' call is
the most important cue in the homing to ponds. Toads, like many amphibians, exhibit breeding site fidelity
(philopatry). Individual American toads return to their natal ponds to breed where they are likely to
encounter siblings as potential mates. Although inbred examples within a species is possible, siblings rarely
mate.[6] Toads recognize and avoid mating with close kin. Advertisement vocalizations given by males
appear to serve as cues by which females recognize kin.[7] Kin recognition thus allows avoidance of
inbreeding and consequent inbreeding depression.

Cultural depictions
In Kenneth Grahame's novel The Wind in the Willows (1908), Mr. Toad is a likeable and popular, if selfish
and narcissistic, comic character. Mr. Toad reappears as the lead character in A.A. Milne's play Toad of Toad
Hall (1929), based on the book.[8][9]
In Chinese culture, the Money Toad (or Frog) Jin Chan appears as a Feng Shui charm for prosperity.[10]

See also
True toad
Common toad

References
1. "toad" (https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=toad). The American Heritage Dictionary
of the English Language. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
2. "toad | amphibian" (https://www.britannica.com/animal/toad#ref58502). Encyclopedia
Britannica. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
3. "Toad" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/toad). Dictionary.com, LLC. Retrieved 29 May
2012.
4. "Anura, Taxonomic Serial No.: 173423" (https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?searc
h_topic=TSN&search_value=173423). ITIS Report. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Retrieved 20 April 2012.
5. Ray, Crystal. "Do Toads Really Cause Warts" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140729013442/ht
tp://voices.yahoo.com/do-toads-really-cause-warts-1044461.html). Yahoo!. Archived from the
original (http://voices.yahoo.com/do-toads-really-cause-warts-1044461.html) on 29 July 2014.
Retrieved 29 January 2013.
6. "American Toad" (http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/americantoad.ht
m). psu.edu.
7. Waldman B, Rice JE, Honeycutt RL. Kin recognition and incest avoidance in toads. Am. Zool.
1992. 32:18-30.
8. "The Big Read Top 200" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml). BBC. April 2003.
Retrieved 28 June 2016..
9. Christine Paik (2002-03-19). "NPR report" (https://www.npr.org/programs/totn/features/2002/m
ar/020319.characters.html). NPR. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
10. "Feng Shui Money Frog" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140501191603/http://fengshui-doctrin
e.com/index.php?q=feng-shui-money-frog.html). Archived from the original (http://fengshui-doc
trine.com/index.php?q=feng-shui-money-frog.html) on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.

External links
"Toad" (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Toad).
Encyclopædia Britannica. 26 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 1035.

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