From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Species of amphibian
The
European green toad
(
Bufotes viridis
) is a
species
of
true toad
found in steppes, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, urban areas and other habitats in mainland Europe, ranging from far eastern France and Denmark to the
Balkans
, Western Russia and the Caucasus.
[3]
As historically defined, the species ranged east through the Middle East and Central Asia to western China, Mongolia and northwestern India, and south through Italy and the Mediterranean islands to North Africa.
Following
genetic
and
morphological
reviews, 14 populations (all largely or entirely Asian, except for the
African
and
Balearic green toads
) are now regarded as separate species. These species and the European green toad are placed in their own genus
Bufotes
, but they were included in
Bufo
.
[4]
[5]
Description
[
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]
The spots on the back vary from green to dark brown and sometimes red spots appear, too. The underside is white or very lightly coloured. The European green toad will change colour in response to heat and light changes. Females are larger than males and can lay 9,000 to 15,000 eggs at a time.
It can reach a maximum size (head and body length) of 10 centimetres (3.9 in), but growth to this size is rare.
[6]
Diet
[
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]
Bufotes viridis
eats a variety of
insects
and
invertebrates
, mainly
crickets
,
meal worms
, small
butterflies
,
earthworms
,
moths
,
beetles
,
ants
,
spiders
[7]
and
caterpillars
. There has also been a reported attack on a bat.
[8]
References
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]
Further reading
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edit
]
- Laurenti JN
(1768).
Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum
. Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I?V. (
Bufo viridis
, new species, p. 27 + Plate I, figure 1). (in Latin).
External links
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]