Toad

For other uses, see Toad (disambiguation).

Toads
A common toad, Bufo bufo
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura Merrem, 1820 List of Anuran families

A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin (usually pink and orange-coloured), short legs, and snout-like parotoid glands. A distinction between frogs and toads, though common in popular culture, is not made in taxonomy, where toads are spread across families Bufonidae, Bombinatoridae, Discoglossidae, Pelobatidae, Rhinophrynidae, Scaphiopodidae, and Microhylidae. A group of toads is called a knot.

Toads cannot transmit warts to people through handling or skin contact. The bumps on a toad's skin help the animal blend into its environment visually by breaking up its outline. Also, the parotoid gland is often mistaken for 'warts'. They are present on healthy specimens and are not a result of infection.

A "fire-bellied toad", Bombina bombina

See also

• True toad

References

• "Anura". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=173423. Retrieved 4 May 2006. 

Further reading

• Beltz, Ellin (2005). Frogs: Inside their Remarkable World. Firefly Books. ISBN 1552978699. 

 Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Toad". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.