Smooth-Sided Toad Fact Sheet

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Smooth-Sided Toad Fact Sheet 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 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. 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. Taxonomic Breakdown Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Bufo Species: B. guttatus Conservation & Helping Smooth-sided toads are of least concern on the endangered species list. However, amphibians as a whole are often endangered because of water and air pollution that they absorb through their skin. Download all our fact sheets, take our quizzes, and more, all in the Critter Squad Kids’ Zone! https://www.crittersquad.com/kids-zone/.

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