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Bufo bufo


Bufo bufo
Photo Information
Copyright: Emmanuel Boitier (emmari) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 387] (3105)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-12
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 150mm F2.8 APO Macro DG HSM
Exposure: f/8, 1/20 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-12 16:37
Viewed: 968
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Bufo bufo
Crapaud commun in French
Common Toad in English

The Common Toad or European Toad is widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Ireland and some Mediterranean islands. Its easterly range extends to Irkutsk in Siberia and its southerly range includes parts of northwestern Africa in the northern mountains of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Adults can grow to 18 cm (7 in) and their skin has a warty appearance and ranges from green to brown. As a defense against predators they secrete a toxic, foul tasting substance called bufagin. This is enough to deter many predators although Grass Snakes and hedgehogs are immune. Although the adults spend most of their time on land the females enter ponds and other still waters to lay their eggs, toadspawn, which can be distinguished from the spawn of the common frog as it forms strings rather than a large mass of eggs. Eggs are laid in the spring, with the females attempting to return to the water in which they were born. The young tadpoles resemble other tadpoles in their appearance except that toadpoles have a larger, rounder blacker head and shorter tail.

Common Toads eat invertebrates such as insects, larvae, spiders, slugs and worms, which they catch on their sticky tongues. Larger toads may also take slow worms, small grass snakes and harvest mice, which are swallowed alive. Toads generally hunt at night, and are most active in wet weather.

In Germany, France, Great Britain and Poland many toads are killed on the roads while migrating to their breeding grounds, in some places special tunnels have been constructed so they can cross under roads and local wildlife groups run toad patrols carrying them across busy crossing points in buckets.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_toad

Hope you like it.

Pour les lecteurs francophones, je vous invite à lire le (court) récit de cette séance consacrée à la photographie de cette espèce à l'adresse http://blog.emmari.net (Mes caïmans du Pantanal...)
Altair, nglen, Emile, geterdone, lee, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Emmanuel,
This is a very nice photo with great sharpnes and POV. Thanks for sharing!

Regards, Peter

wow very nice picture in all!!!!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8625] (32146)
  • [2007-04-12 17:02]

Hi Emmanuel. this a fantastic close up of the Toad. the detail is great, with great eye contact, and colour.back DOf. WEll done..Nick

Sweet eye.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-04-13 3:36]

Hi Emmanuel,
Amazing shot. Lovely colours and immaculate sharpness. Perfect lighting and BG. What eyes ! I like it and also its pose. The foreground grass enhances the beauty. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Emile (0)
  • [2007-04-13 10:41]

Great picture, perfect on the eye and the background. Really very well done. TFS.
Emile

Hi Emmanuel, the detail in this is superb! Nice compo with a nice OOF Bg. Colors are great...love the eye. Very nice shooting. TFS! Lyndon

I've passed up photo opps of toads on my lawn thinking it wouldn't make for a pleasing result...I'll think twice this season:)

  • Great 
  • lee Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 38 W: 0 N: 23] (84)
  • [2007-04-13 17:32]

Hi Emmanuel, since I'm a fan of the little toads and frogs I like this. Very nice pov and composition. Some good colors and nice detail and well what can't you say about them eyes, wow :-). Good job, TFS.

Lee

Emmanuel,
wonderful portrait of ultimate high end quality.
I love the magnificent colours and details, in particular the eye. And the charming pose of the grasping paw.
Thank you! With best regards,
Peter

Emmanuel ,
You capture a great image that shows a funny bulky looking character and with very nice results. :)

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