Details
Bufo bufo
Common toad is a sturdy toad widespread in Europe that gathers at ponds during the breeding season. Road crossings, pond loss, and pesticides can affect local populations.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses woodland, grassland, gardens, parks, farmland, and damp areas near water. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland, freshwater, urban.
Typical length 8-15 cm, weight 20 g-80 g. Warty skin, copper-colored eyes, short legs, and a squat body are characteristic.
It is nocturnal and usually solitary. It walks at night to feed and often returns to the same ponds in spring, crossing roads en route.
It is carnivorous. Insects, earthworms, slugs, spiders, and other small ground animals are caught with the tongue.
Males clasp females, and long strings of eggs are laid in ponds or pools.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. Road crossings, pond loss, and pesticides can affect local populations.
