Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
The bufonids are species with a cosmopolitan distribution that notably vary in shape, size and diversity of coloration. In terms of size, the Bufonidae species range from diminutive species likeDendrophryniscus carvalhoiIzecksohn, 1994 (less than 20 mm SVL in adults), to species like those ofRhinella marina's group (about 230 mm SVL in adults).
In relation to coloration, there are species that have evident colors in their skins, reminding us the Dendrobatidae family.Atelophus pulcher(Boulenger, 1882), for example, shows a yellowish skin with black patches along their body. On the other hand, other species have a less outstanding coloration, likeRhinella jimi(Stevaux, 2002), which has a slightly greenish body with dark patches at the back.
A bufonids' unique feature is the presence of the Bidder's organ in the male tadpoles; this organ can also persist in the majority of adults. All adult individuals of the family lack teeth on their jaw, what makes the Bufonidae toothless frogs during the adult stage.
Bufonoidea was a proposed superfamily of frogs. It was one of three superfamilies that made up the advanced Neobatrachian frogs in the classification of Dowling and Duellman (1978), the other superfamilies being Microhyloidea and Ranoidea.[1]
The families assigned to Bufonoidea were:[1]
Molecular phylogenetic analyses have led to major revisions of frog taxonomy, with the taxa belonging to these families being extensively revised and a number of new families erected.[2] With the exception of the Australian ground frogs (Myobatrachidae), these families belong to the Hyloidea.[3]
Bufonoidea was a proposed superfamily of frogs. It was one of three superfamilies that made up the advanced Neobatrachian frogs in the classification of Dowling and Duellman (1978), the other superfamilies being Microhyloidea and Ranoidea.
A true toad is any member of the family Bufonidae, in the order Anura (frogs and toads). This is the only family of anurans in which all members are known as toads, although some may be called frogs (such as harlequin frogs). The bufonids now comprise more than 35 genera, Bufo being the best known.
Bufonidae is thought to have originated in South America. Some studies date the origin of the group to after the breakup of Gondwana, about 78 - 98 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous.[2] In contrast, other studies have dated the origin of the group to the early Paleocene.[3] The bufonids likely radiated out of South America during the Eocene, with the entire radiation occurring during the Eocene to Oligocene, marking an extremely rapid divergence likely facilitated by the Paleogene's changing climatic conditions.[3]
The following phylogeny of most genera in the family is based on Portik and Papenfuss, 2015:,[4] Chan et al., 2016,[5] Chandramouli et. al., 2016,[6] and Kok et. al., 2017[3]
undescribed lineage
Ingerophrynus alongside Leptophryne was grouped as basal to the clade containing all other Southeast Asian toad genera and Ghatophryne by Portik and Papenfuss, but was found to group with Phrynoidis and Rentapia by Chan et al. Ghatophryne was grouped with Phrynoidis and Rentapia by Portik and Papenfuss but was found to group with Pelophryne and Ansonia by Chan et al. In addition, Sabahphrynus was grouped with Strauchbufo and Bufo by Portik and Papenfuss but was found to group with Pelophryne, Ansonia, and Ghatophryne by Chan et al.
True toads are widespread and are native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica, inhabiting a variety of environments, from arid areas to rainforest. Most lay eggs in paired strings that hatch into tadpoles, although, in the genus Nectophrynoides, the eggs hatch directly into miniature toads.[1]
All true toads are toothless and generally warty in appearance. They have a pair of parotoid glands on the back of their heads. These glands contain an alkaloid poison which the toads excrete when stressed. The poison in the glands contains a number of toxins causing different effects. Bufotoxin is a general term. Different animals contain significantly different substances and proportions of substances. Some, like the cane toad Rhinella marina, are more toxic than others. Some "psychoactive toads", such as the Colorado River toad Incilius alvarius,[7] have been used recreationally for the effects of their bufotoxin.
Depending on the species, male or female toads may possess a Bidder's organ, a trait unique to all bufonids except genera Melanophryniscus and Truebella.[8] Under the right conditions, the organ becomes an active ovary.[9]
The loss of teeth has arisen in frogs independently over 20 times. Notably, all members of Bufonidae are toothless. Another Anuran family with a comparable degree of edentulism is the family Microhylidae.[10]
Internal fertilization occurs in four bufonid genera.[11]
Ascaphus (all species) and Eleutherodactylus (two species, E. coqui and E. jasperi) are the only other frog genera that have internal fertilization.[11] Limnonectes larvaepartus also has internal fertilization.[12]
The family Bufonidae contains over 570 species among 52 genera.
Genus Latin name and author Common name Species Adenomus Cope, 1861 Dwarf toadsA true toad is any member of the family Bufonidae, in the order Anura (frogs and toads). This is the only family of anurans in which all members are known as toads, although some may be called frogs (such as harlequin frogs). The bufonids now comprise more than 35 genera, Bufo being the best known.
