The Eurasian toad is the biggest and baddest toad in Europe. This amphibian has dual hunting styles-hiding so it can snatch a victim and then crush it to death in its strong, bony jaws or hopping after prey and lashing out with its long, sticky tongue. This creature also has a weapon to use against bigger predators. Glands in the toad's skin produce toxins that, if swallowed, can paralyze and even kill an enemy.
Super Size: At six inches long, this creature is big for a toad, and looks even bigger because of its thick, warty skin. The Eurasian toad has a surprise for hungry predators-large glands behind its eyes secrete milky white toxins when the toad is startled.
Heart Stopping: A predator that attacks the Eurasian toad and gets a mouthful of poison may not have long to live. The toad's toxins attack the victim's muscles-including the heart-and can paralyze an animal as big as a large dog.
Big Eats[]
In less than a second, this toad's tongue will snap up a beetle.
The Eurasian toad will eat pretty much anything it can stuff into its wide mouth. When it comes to insects, the toad hops after them and snags one with a lightning-fast flick of its sticky tongue. This hungry predator waits in ambush for larger prey. It hides behind a plant or rock, then springs out to gobble up small snakes or even rodents. The toad doesn't have teeth, so it crushes bigger victims between the hard plates on the edges of its jaws, then swallows them whole.
Major Migration: Every spring, Eurasian toads travel for miles to gather at local breeding grounds. Hundreds of toads swarm along the same path to reach the location, usually a pond, in hopes of finding a mate.
Which Toad? This toad has been associated with European witchcraft for centuries. "Witches" supposedly used toad toxins and whole body parts in potions, and the toad was sometimes seen as a demon that had taken the shape of the animal.
Pump up the Toad Volume[]
- At the local breeding ground, a female Eurasian toad makes her way through dozens of males. Each one croaks at her, trying to convince her to choose him as her mate.
- The female toad is most attracted to the loudest croak she hears. She tracks down the loudest male, who is separate from the other males so he won't have to fight them off.
- The toads mate and, about 10 days later, their tadpoles hatch in the water. After three or four months, the tadpoles will develop into adult toads and hop onto land.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The card's front illustration is used in the Wildlife Explorer series, for the Eurasian Toad's profile. It has little changes, except for shading of a rocky/shallow river-like terrain beneath the toad on the Wildlife Explorer card.
- The image of the frog eating and the illustrations for "Pump up the Toad Volume" are also featured. The latter, titled "A Date With Destiny", has a bonus third image of the toads mating.