Common Toad
Bufo bufo
Quick answer
The common toad is a stout, warty amphibian found across Europe, western Asia, and northwest Africa, typically 8 to 13 cm (3 to 5 in) long. It spends most of the year on land in woodlands and gardens, hunting insects and other invertebrates by night, and returns to ponds in spring to breed. Common toads are long-lived for amphibians, often reaching 10 to 12 years in the wild.
Common Toad facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Bufo bufo |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore (insects, worms, slugs) |
| Habitat | Woodland, grassland, and gardens near ponds |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years in the wild |
| Length | 8–13 cm (3–5 in) body length |
| Weight | 20–80 g (0.7–2.8 oz) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Bufonidae |
| Genus | Bufo |
Behavior and defense
Common toads are mostly nocturnal and spend the day hidden under logs, stones, or in burrows, emerging at dusk to forage. They walk or make short hops rather than the long leaps of true frogs. When threatened, a common toad can puff up its body to look larger, and its skin contains bufotoxins from the parotoid glands behind the eyes that taste foul to predators.
Diet and feeding
These toads are carnivores that eat insects, worms, slugs, snails, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They hunt by sitting still and ambushing prey, flicking out a sticky tongue to catch anything that moves within range. Their appetite for slugs and pest insects makes them popular with gardeners.
Habitat and range
The common toad lives across most of Europe, into western Asia, and in parts of northwest Africa, favoring woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands, and gardens. It is highly faithful to its breeding ponds, with adults migrating back to the same water each spring, sometimes in large numbers. Outside the breeding season it leads a solitary, land-based life.
Breeding and conservation
In spring, common toads gather at ponds where females lay long strings of eggs wrapped around water plants. The species is listed as Least Concern and remains widespread, but populations have declined in some areas due to habitat loss and road deaths during migrations. Volunteer toad patrols help adults cross roads safely on the way to their breeding ponds.
Frequently asked questions about the Common Toad
Are common toads poisonous?
Common toads secrete bufotoxins from glands behind their eyes that taste unpleasant and can irritate the mouth of a predator. They are not dangerous to handle briefly, but you should wash your hands afterward and avoid touching your eyes.
What do common toads eat?
Common toads are carnivores that eat insects, worms, slugs, snails, and spiders. Their fondness for slugs and pest insects makes them a welcome presence in gardens.
How long do common toads live?
Common toads typically live 10 to 12 years in the wild, which is long for an amphibian, and some individuals in captivity have lived considerably longer.
Where do common toads live?
They live across Europe, western Asia, and northwest Africa in woodlands, grasslands, and gardens, returning to ponds only to breed in spring.
What is the difference between a frog and a toad?
Toads such as the common toad have drier, wartier skin, shorter legs, and tend to walk or make short hops, while typical frogs have smoother, moister skin and longer legs for leaping.
Do common toads return to the same pond to breed?
Yes. Common toads are strongly faithful to their breeding ponds and migrate back to the same water each spring, often in large numbers along well-used routes.
