Bumpy, not slimy
Many familiar toads have dry-looking, bumpy skin. Their colors help them blend into soil, leaves, and grass.
MEET A POND-SIDE NEIGHBOR
Toads are
pretty amazing.
They’re not princes in disguise. They’re real amphibians with interesting skin, useful appetites, and a big part to play in a healthy habitat.
Take the toad quiz →
TOAD NOTES
Three things to notice.
Toads are a kind of frog, but they have a few traits of their own.
Nighttime snackers
Adult toads eat small animals such as insects, worms, and slugs. They help move energy through the food web.
Spring singers
When it’s breeding season, male American toads make a long musical trill to call to females near shallow water.
FROM WATER TO LAND
A toad’s first big journey.
Toad eggs hatch into tadpoles that live in water. As they grow, they develop legs and change into tiny toadlets that can move onto land.
Follow the pond life cycle →EGGLong strings in shallow water
TADPOLETail for swimming, gills for breathing
TOADLETLegs grow as the tail shrinks
ADULTMostly land-living, back to water to breed
TOAD-WATCHER TIP
Look with your eyes, not your hands.
Toads have sensitive skin and may release defensive substances. Watch quietly from a safe distance, never pick one up, and wash your hands after time outside.