Britain's official guide to canals, rivers and lakes

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Toad

Common Toad, courtesy of David Pollard

Our Common Toad is the largest toad found in Europe.

These squat amphibians are a familiar sight along our waterways, in our parks and even in our gardens. Worryingly, a number of toads are also sighted along our roads as they make their perilous journey to the breeding ponds in the spring.

Common toads (Buffo buffo) inhabit parts of North-west Africa and Asia as well as most of Europe. They can easily be told apart from frogs by their warty skin, and a natural inclination to walk instead of hop. Toads inhabit damp areas of woodland, parks and fields and spend the day sheltering in shallow burrows beneath vegetation, tree roots or stones.

The nocturnal creatures are most active on rainy nights when they emerge from their shelter to hunt their invertebrate prey, which they catch on their long, sticky tongues. Contrary to popular belief, toads happily live most of their lives away from the waterways. It is only during the spring that toads experience a strong urge to return to their chosen ponds, rivers, lakes or canals to breed.

This mass migration takes place as the toads emerge from hibernation in late march. Toads will return to the same site year after year, passing by other, equally suitable, water bodies on their hazardous journey which can take anything from two days to a month. Toads are talented climbers and will easily navigate obstacles such as walls, which may block their path. Unfortunately, the slow-moving toads are less successful in negotiating Britain's increasingly busy roads, and a number are killed every year.

Facts

Appearance: Colour can be anything from dark brown to olive green depending on age, sex, time of year and geographical location. Toads have broad, squat bodies and a warty skin. Their hind feet are webbed to help them swim

Size: 8-13cm (females are larger than males)

Weight: 250g

Lifespan: Up to 40 years

Diet: Invertebrates such as worms, spiders and insect larvae. Larger toads may also prey on small rodents, grass snakes and slow worms

Family: Bufonidae

Did you know?

  • If frightened, common toads can puff up their bodies and stretch out their legs to make themselves seem bigger and deter predators
  • Toads also secrete a nasty-tasting substance from their skin which prevents most predators from eating them. Unfortunately for the toads, some predators (such as hedgehogs and grass snakes) are not put off by this taste
  • Female toads do not make any sound. Male toads sometimes 'croak'. This can be a useful way of telling toads apart
  • Toads like large and deep bodies of water and are less likely than frogs to be seen around garden ponds
  • Natterjack toads, the noisiest amphibian in Europe, are occasionally spotted in the UK. The call of the male Natterjack can be heard for several kilometres