View source for Toad

{{Short description|Common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae}}
{{other uses}}
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{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Bombina bombina 1 (Marek Szczepanek).jpg
| image_caption = [[European fire-bellied toad]] (''Bombina bombina''), a member of the family [[Bombinatoridae]]
| taxon = Anura
| authority = [[Blasius Merrem|Merrem]], 1820
| subdivision_ranks = Families
| subdivision = [[List of Anuran families]]
}}

'''Toad''' (also known as a '''hoptoad''') is a common name for certain [[frog]]s, especially of the family [[True toads|Bufonidae]], that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the [[parotoid gland]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=toad|title= toad|website= The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language|publisher= Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|access-date= 6 October 2016}}</ref><ref name=EncycloBrit>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/toad#ref58502|title=toad {{!}} amphibian|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-05-23|language=en}}</ref>

In popular culture ([[folk taxonomy]]), toads are distinguished from frogs by their drier, rougher skin and association with more [[terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] habitats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/toad |title=Toad |publisher=Dictionary.com, LLC |access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref> However, this distinction does not align precisely with scientific [[taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]].

== List of toad families ==
In scientific taxonomy, toads include the [[true toad|true toads]] (Bufonidae) and various other terrestrial or warty-skinned frogs.

Non-bufonid "toads" can be found in the families:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=173423 |title=Anura, Taxonomic Serial No.: 173423 |work=ITIS Report |publisher=Integrated Taxonomic Information System |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>

* [[Bombinatoridae]] ([[Fire-bellied toad|fire-bellied toads]] and [[Jungle toad|jungle toads]])
* [[Calyptocephalellidae]] ([[Calyptocephalella|helmeted water toad]] and [[Telmatobufo|false toads]])
* [[Discoglossidae]] ([[Midwife toad|midwife toads]])
* [[Myobatrachidae]] (Australian toadlets)
* [[Pelobatidae]] ([[European spadefoot toad]])
* [[Rhinophrynidae]] ([[Burrowing toad|burrowing toads]])
* [[Scaphiopodidae]] ([[American spadefoot toad|American spadefoot toads]])
* [[Microhylidae]] ([[Gastrophryne|narrowmouth toads]])

== Biology ==
Usually the largest of the bumps on a toad's skin are those that cover the parotoid glands. The bumps are commonly called warts, but they have nothing to do with pathologic [[wart]]s, being fixed in size, present on healthy specimens, and not caused by infection.<ref name="EncycloBrit" /> It is a myth that handling toads causes warts.<ref name="EncycloBrit" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Butts |first1=Wilbur K. |title=Error and Superstition in Biology |journal=BIOS |date=1933 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=52–60 |jstor=4603978 }}</ref>

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 toad]]s return to their natal ponds to breed, making it likely they will encounter siblings when seeking potential mates. Although inbred examples within a species are possible, siblings rarely mate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/americantoad.htm|title=American Toad|work=psu.edu}}</ref> Toads recognize and avoid mating with close kin. Advertisement vocalizations given by males appear to serve as cues by which females recognize kin.<ref>Waldman B, Rice JE, Honeycutt RL. Kin recognition and incest avoidance in toads. Am. Zool. 1992. 32:18-30.</ref> Kin recognition thus allows avoidance of inbreeding and consequent [[inbreeding depression]].

== Habitat ==
In the United Kingdom, [[common toad]]s often climb trees to hide in hollows or in nest boxes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311987-common-toads-surprise-biologists-by-climbing-trees/ | title=Common toads surprise biologists by climbing trees }}</ref>

==Cultural depictions==
{{Further|Toadstone|List of fictional frogs and toads}}
[[File:Dong Ho painting - Nhan nghia.jpg|thumb|Vietnamese folk painting "Nhân nghĩa"]]
[[File:Grenouilles2.jpg|thumb|Vietnamese folk painting "Lão oa giảng độc"]]

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.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml | title=The Big Read Top 200 | publisher=BBC | date=April 2003 | access-date=28 June 2016}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Christine Paik |title=100 Best Characters in Fiction Since 1900: From ''Book'' Magazine, March/April 2002 |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/totn/features/2002/mar/020319.characters.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020408191445/https://www.npr.org/programs/totn/features/2002/mar/020319.characters.html |archive-date=8 April 2002 |url-status=dead |work=[[Talk of the Nation]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=2002-03-19 |access-date=2013-02-26}}</ref>

In Chinese culture, the Money Toad (or Frog) [[Jin Chan]] appears as a [[feng shui]] charm for prosperity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fengshui-doctrine.com/index.php?q=feng-shui-money-frog.html |title=Feng Shui Money Frog |access-date=28 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501191603/http://fengshui-doctrine.com/index.php?q=feng-shui-money-frog.html |archive-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Frogs}}
* [[True toad]]
* [[Common toad]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Commons}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Toad |volume=26 |page=1035 |short=x}}

[[Category:Toads|*]]
[[Category:Amphibian common names]]