Common toad

Bufo bufo

A common toad sits on a mossy tree stump in Hellabrunn Zoo. IUCN Red List endangerment category: Least concern
  • Family
    Toads (Bufonidae)
  • Weight
    ♀ 60 – 90 g, ♂ 30 – 50 g
  • Habitat
    Forests, gardens, fi elds

Deadly enemy

The common toad has a deadly enemy called the toadfly. In summer, it lays its eggs on the toad’s skin (back or head). Upon hatching, the larvae of the parasitic fly crawl into the toad’s nostrils and eat its flesh from within. If the toad notices the deposited eggs, it will shed it skin, which it will then eat – fly eggs and all.

A common toad sitting on its hind legs.

Loving grip

During the mating season, the males try to impress the females by their size and posture. They sit bolt upright in order to spot the females from afar. When a female common toad approaches, the male mounts and clasps her in a special grip known as amplexus. The female then carries the male piggyback to the pond, where they spawn.

To protect against predators, the tadpoles swarm together in schools. This gives them the appearance of a large species, causing the enemy to flee.

Distribution 

Distribution map common toad