European Green Toad

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European Green Toad
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Bufo Species: B. viridis
Binomial name
Bufo viridis (Laurenti, 1768)

The European green toad Bufo viridis is a toad found in mainland Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. They live in many areas, including steppes, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, and urban areas. There are variations in the colors and patterns of these toads across their range. The spots their backs are usually anything from green to dark brown and sometimes red spots appear, too. Most toads have white or very lighly colored stomachs.

They are widely sold as pets because of their availability and adaptability. They should be housed in a 10-15 gallon terrarium with mulch or dirt bedding. Vegetation, rocks, sticks and other things are necessary for the toad on which to climb and in which to hide, as well as a water bowl. If kept in a warm room, the terrarium shouldn't need any additional heating, but a fluorescent bulb does allow the toad to sunbathe and is preferable. The bedding should be changed every 2-3 weeks and the water changed daily. The toads eat a variety of insects and invertebrates, mainly crickets, meal worms, earth worms, moths, beetles and caterpillars.

Like most other toads, these toads will change their color in response to heat and light changes, but to a greater degree than others. Also similar to other toads, the European Green Toad has glands behind it's neck that secrete a toxin when the toad is threatened. Female toads are larger than males and can lay 9,000 to 15,000 eggs at a time. They can reach a maximum size of 6", but growth to this size is rare.

[edit] References

STÖCK M., MORITZ C., HICKERSON M., FRYNTA D., DUJSEBAYEVA T., EREMCHENKO V., MACEY J.R., PAPENFUSS T. J., AND WAKE D. B. (2006): Evolution of mitochondrial relationships and biogeography of Palearctic green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup) with insights in their genomic plasticity. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41:663-689.

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