Bufo

Colorado toad ( Bufo alvarius )

The Real toads (Bufo ) are the most species-rich genus in the family of toads ( Bufonidae ), the ( Anura ) belongs to the order Anura. However, the combined taxon is here discussed as paraphyletic and would therefore have to be divided into different genres. Maybe only about 20 species would be in the case in the genus Bufo remain (see toads).

Dissemination

The genus Bufo in the classical sense comes with almost 300 species worldwide of the cold - temperate to tropical zones in the front. Evolution and current distribution centers of the genus are the two emerged from the southern continent Gondwana by previous continental drift continents South America and Africa. From there, later, North America or Asia and Europe were settled. In Australia, New Guinea and on many other islands where they originally did not occur, some species have been artificially settled by humans (see cane toad ). In Europe, only three species are native to the Earth, the cross and the green toad - all in Germany.

Description

True Toads usually have a stocky, strong physique ( to compare anatomy: Neobatrachia ), a short snout, horizontally dilated pupils, eye-catching ear glands ( parotid glands ) at the back of the head and rather short legs. Dry skin is covered with warty protuberances. In the " warts ", as in the parotid glands open, the skin can secrete toxins. These secretions protect the animals from predators and skin parasites. The jaw bones are toothless. Characteristic of the genus as for the family is also the so-called Biddersche organ - rudimentary ovaries in males. Mating takes place as with all Neobatrachia with axillary grip of the male, so backwards behind the front legs of the female. The spawn is delivered usually in the form of long, thin, pearl chain-like gelatinous cords into the water.

The skin secretions of various types, such as the European common toad and toad, the cane toad, Colorado River toad ( Bufo alvarius ) and the sand toad ( Bufo arenarum ), bufotenine has been demonstrated. This hallucinogenic alkaloid tryptamine on - base developed in the human body, a similar but weaker effect as LSD. Other components of the secretion include heart poisons such bufonis venenum.

Way of life

The Real Toads are mostly terrestrial living, crepuscular and nocturnal animals that spend the day hidden. In habitat colonization strategy distinction is rather "site fidelity " species ( K- strategists ), the traditional breeding waters continue to visit ( for example, the common toad ), and " stray ", new ponds spontaneously colonizing species (r- strategists, such as the natterjack toad ). The latter have as large males throat constant sound bubbles to make females over a large distance attention and a suitable spawning grounds.

Types (selection)

  • Bufo alvarius Girard in Baird, 1859 - Colorado toad
  • Bufo americanus Holbrook, 1836 - American Toad
  • Bufo arenarum Hensel, 1867 - Sand Toad
  • Bufo baxteri Porter, 1964 - Wyoming Toad
  • Bufo blombergi Myers & Funkhouser, 1951 - Colombian Giant Toad
  • Bufo boreas Baird & Girard, 1852 - Polar toad
  • Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) - Toad
  • Bufo calamita Laurenti, 1768 - Natterjack Toad
  • Bufo chavin teaching, Aguilar, Köhler & Ponce, 2001
  • Bufo cognatus Say in James, 1823 - Plains toad
  • Bufo guttatus Schneider, 1799 - Drop toad
  • Bufo marinus (Linnaeus, 1758) - cane toad
  • Bufo mauretanicus Schlegel, 1841 - Berber toad
  • Bufo melanostictus Schneider, 1799 - Black scars toad
  • Bufo periglenes Savage, 1967 - Gold Toad †
  • Bufo regularis Reuss, 1833 - Panther Toad
  • Bufo terrestris ( Bonnaterre, 1789) - Florida toad
  • Bufo viridis Laurenti, 1768 - Green Toad
  • Bufo verrucosissimus ( Pallas, 1814) - Colchian toad
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