Amphibians
Common toad
Bufo bufo
The common toad is one of Europe’s most widespread amphibians: stocky, with warty skin and large parotoid glands behind the eyes. Nocturnal and terrestrial, it returns each spring to the same ponds to breed.
In short
The common toad (Bufo bufo) is a species with IUCN conservation status LC (Least concern). It lives in woods, fields, hedgerows and gardens, sheltering by day under logs and stones. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the common toad live?
It lives in woods, fields, hedgerows and gardens, sheltering by day under logs and stones. In spring it undertakes long migrations to water bodies, where females lay long strings of eggs.
Is the common toad endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern (LC), but many populations are declining. The main threats are wetland loss, fragmentation and above all road mortality during breeding migrations.
Facts about the common toad
- It can live over 10 years and always returns to its natal pond.
- Its parotoid glands secrete toxins that deter predators.
- In many countries “toad tunnels” are built under roads.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Bufo bufo (Least Concern)
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.