A toad is an amphibious animal.
Toad is a concept that has multiple uses. The term generally refers to an animal characterized by short legs, bulging eyes, and warty skin.
The toad is an amphibian : it breathes through gills in its larval state and then undergoes a metamorphosis that, upon reaching adulthood, results in the development of lung-type respiration. Toads are also defined as anurans since they do not have a tail.
Being on the earth's surface, toads move by jumping . These animals feed on insects and other invertebrate organisms and have the ability to inflate their bodies when they are in danger, becoming larger.
Types of toads
As we have mentioned, there are many types of toads that exist. However, among the most significant or recognized are the following:
– Bufo bufo , also called common toad or European toad . It usually lives in stagnant waters, has a length of between 8 and 13 centimeters, is plump in appearance and can live up to fifty years in captivity. Through tradition it has been associated with witchcraft.
– Eastern fire-bellied toad . This can be found in Russia , China , Japan and Korea . It has a triangular shape, measures between 3.8 and 5.5 centimeters, is omnivorous and can weigh between 28 and 56 grams. It is aquatic and, as a general rule, lives in streams and lagoons where there is not much current.
– Giant toad . It is frequently found in Australia , it is considered a pest, it is omnivorous, it can weigh 1.3 kilos and its size ranges between 10 and 15 centimeters. It is native to the United States and South America , its skin is excessively dry and wrinkled, the poison it expels from its victims can be lethal.
Toads have short legs and bulging eyes and lack a tail.
Games and attractions
Known as toad, on the other hand, is a game that consists of throwing chips (also called quoits or discs) towards different openings found on the competition table. Some of these holes are partially blocked to increase the difficulty. This game, in several countries, is called rana .
In addition to all of the above, we cannot ignore that Don Sapo and Sapo Saltón are attractions that adults and children can enjoy at fairs and amusement parks in different corners of the world, as would be the case in Spain .
Other uses of the term toad
The notion of toad has various symbolic uses depending on the region. Thus, depending on the area, a toad can be a person who is a tell-tale, clumsy, a spy, who is short in stature or who makes a couple who is in a romantic situation uncomfortable.
Colloquially, the expression kissing frogs is used, which refers to the fact that a woman continually encounters men who do not turn out to be her “better half” and who deceive her.
a proper name
Sapo , finally, is used as a proper name in several contexts.
A national park located in Sinoe ( Liberia ), a river in the municipality of Arambala ( El Salvador ) and a fictional character created by Marvel Comics are called Sapo .