| Actual Image
Bufo bufo-for Selen (78)
boreocypriensis
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3412 W: 148 N: 4221]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (11104) | Bufo bufo (Common Toad)[in Turk. Siğilli Kurbağa, local name "Kazan Kurbağası"] (A male and his facial expression -in WS)
Dear Friends, I would like to dedicate this photo to our friend Selen Ediger (SelenE) who liked greatly this beautiful toad when I uploaded its > first capture of a female. [ çiğbörek benzetmeniz hala aklımda Selen hanım :-) ]
This toad is found over most of Europe except Ireland, Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearics, Malta, Crete, Cyprus and some other smaller islands. It is also distributed in NW Africa and W Asia with a vertical distribution changing between the sea level and 3000 m.
It is the the largest toad species in Europe and Turkey. Adults up to 15cm long, but there is geographical variation in size and females are larger than males. It is heavily built with a horizontal pupil, very warty skin and prominent paratoid glands (in the posterior of eyes) that are slightly oblique. Eye is deep gold or copper-coloured. Males do not have external vocal sac. Dorsum usually brownish, but varying from sandy to almost brick-red, rich dark brown, greyish or occasionally olive. Tends to be fairly uniformly coloured, but may have darker blotches and patches. Belly usually is whitish or grey, often with darker marbling.
In Turkey, animals from the near areas to Mediterranean ecozone, i.e., the south of Turkish Thrace and W Anatolia (B. b. spinosus) are often very large and has spinier skins as seen in my capture. The nominate species (B. b. bufo) lives in Central Anatolia. Toads from the NE Anatolia with less contrasting colouring and smaller wart like verruca are named B. b. verrucosimus.
The vocalization of the males is similar to dog pup yelping. The male 'release' calls is being most often heard at night. This is a not very powerful, rather high-pitched rough 'qwark-qwark-qwark', about 2-3 syllables a second, or more. The actual mating call is slower and the syllables are longer. It is found in a wide variety of often fairly dry habitats. It is mainly nocturnal, hiding by day, usually in one particular spot, and emerging around dusk. Normally walks, but hops when alarmed. When approached by predators may assume characteristic posture with the head down, and the hindquarters raised. Forages nocturnally, predating on insects, earthworms and some mollusks. During the breeding period they move to small pools or ponds. Males usually arrive first and stop for several weeks while females visit just long enough to find a mate and lay their eggs. Males are very enthusiastic and will sometimes clasp fish or inanimate objects; several of them may attach to the same female forming a ball of up to a dozen animals. Males often fight for females rather than attracting them by calling. Large females lay their eggs in two parallel strings and the average number of eggs in a double string is around 5,000-8,000. Eeach produced string swell to 5-10mm thick and are up to 5m long. They are often laid over several hours among the stems of aquatic vegetation, frequently in sunny situations. The eggs often develop in 2-3 weeks and the tadpoles swim in dense swarms that can be several metres long. Newly metamorphosed toads are very small, just 7-12mm, and are quite diurnal in their initial stages of their development. Reaching sexual maturity may take 3-7 years and their average life time is around 15-20 years.
Bayram
References:
1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp [2nd Edition, 2008].
3. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
4. Arnold, N.E. (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe.Collins, London, UK, 288 pp.
Dear Friends, As you known I am in Cyprus now! I have limited opportinity to upload new photos based on my trips in Turkey and Cyprus. Therefore I upload this one since I prepared this for our heartfelt frien Selen. However I will try to upload a new capture from here as soon as possible for you |
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