Smooth-Sided Toad Fact Sheet

Common Name: Smooth-sided Toad / Spotted Toad

Scientific Name: 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 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 , 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 , 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 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.

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