Toads are prominent members of the Amphibian Group. Toads usually come from the family group of Bufonidae. As most amphibians do, toads like to live in ponds of quiet nature. These creatures are often confused with their close relative known as the frogs. Toads have a much similar diet to that of frogs. Thus, the question of what do toads eat is filled with things that can also be eaten by frogs.
Frogs are more athletic while on the other hand toads have much more squatty-shaped. Frogs own long legs to hop from place to place, while toads use their short legs to crawl around places. The main difference between them is that frogs have a much brighter color than toads. And the skin of toads is much drier and more rigid when compared to the wet and slimy surface of frogs.
We can say that toads are a sub-classification of frogs. The outer appearance of the toads appears rough, sturdy, and dry all the time. Their leathery skin enables them to withstand different temperatures. Their skin also helps them to cope with different terrains and weather when they migrate during the mating season.
Like these, a lot of facts are associated with this mysterious being. Let us get to know our answer to the question of what toads eat. We might even come across several facts about toads which could be quite interesting. So sit back, and read along to know more about these creatures.
1) What Do Toads Eat?
It was initially thought that toads and frogs were omnivores. But as time passed by, it was proven that not even a single percent of them were considering consuming something which is of the herbivore state. All they ate were things that were either living or dead. Toads eat things that live and move. This proves the fact that toads are carnivores, just like their cousin group, the frogs.
Toads are prosperous when they are in their natural state. That is, when toads have the freedom to move and act on their own, they have a lot of choices around them. A baby toad can easily grow to a fully grown one if it has a diet that can be easily sufficed in the wild. Let us look at the food options preferred by the toads over the other ones they have.
1.1) Crickets
Crickets can be found easily in places filled with a lot of flora. Toads eat crickets without a struggle.
Crickets are the closest ones to resemble grasshoppers, which are also the prey of these toads. Plants are trees are the residing places for this insect group, and toads are one of their prominent predators to ever exist.
This is the most common answer to the question of what do toads eat.
1.2) Beetles
Beetles are generally known for their ability to fly short-term and for their designed body types which come in various colors. Now this beautiful insect is also one of the most consumed prey of toads. Beetles are quick and easy-to-eat consumables for the whole toad species.
1.3) Flies
Flies have a lot of variations among them. They differ in color and size, but they have the same body structure. Now, this pest group is one of the favorite consumption items of the toads. Due to the flies’ availability in large quantities, toads never run out of food.
1.4) Bees
These insects are said to put up a fight when they come in contact with the toads. Bees show a sign of struggle or power, but it is no match for the toughest grip of the toad’s tongue which is powerful. Bees tend to sting when they are harmed. But here, they are subdued before consumption.
1.5) Locusts
One of the closest cousins to the insect group of grasshoppers, locusts have also taken the spot of the favorite prey items of toads. A lot of toads find locusts a treat because they are relatively bigger than the other insects on the list.
1.6) Spiders
Spiders are one of the creatures which never fail to creep on the human population. They prove as one of the most frightful creations of god. But these creatures are just simply tossed over and swallowed as a whole by these toads. A lot of spider varieties are known to have fallen prey to this big-mouthed creature.
1.7) Snails
These shelled gastropods are famous for feeding on plants by consuming them slowly. These snails are considered pests at a point in time when they start to bug the work done by most gardeners. Toads find the snail group as a quick and protein-rich snack whenever they come across one.
1.8) Slugs
Slugs are snails but without shells. Just the slimy body of the snail is present without any protection, leaving them exposed to all kinds of threats. One such big threat is from frogs and toads.
They eat snails and slugs because they are quick and easy to get. Moreover, gardeners appreciate the action of the toads because it reduces the damage caused to their plants by these gastropods.
1.9) Worms
Worms are helpless creatures in this situation. All they do is move at a slow pace. Now, something like that should prove to be an easy meal for the toads. This is why worms stand as one of the most consumed things by toads.
Toads usually wait out on the plain ground when it starts raining. It is because fresh worms come out of the ground during this time. Thus, toads find this opportunity to get a quick feed. But during this situation, toads are threatened by another animal group known as birds to us.
1.10) Mice
Mice are one of the most popular small rodents in existence. They are tiny and they move quickly. Their agility makes it a very tougher job for their predator to finish the job. But when it is caught, the predator might’ve won itself a good meal.
Now, a surprising fact here is, this small rodent is also food for toads which are large. But the thing is, it can even turn the other way around.
1.11) Scorpions
One of the toughest opponents for toads to handle, the scorpions prove to be a good meal for toads when they are defeated. Toads just swallow the whole thing.
Scorpions are famous for their venom. They just sting and inject all their venom into their opponent. The sting is its primary defense mechanism after its sharp clipper hands.
Now, it is usually said that toads are immune to scorpion venom. Toads have the upper hand here due to this. Large scorpions cannot be defeated easily, but the smaller ones will be easily swallowed by large toads without even starting a fight.
1.12) Voles
Voles look pretty cute and they are one of the closest relations to the animal species of mice. They are even considered to resemble the most common pet rodent known as hamsters.
Now, these creatures are somewhat defenseless. They are swift, but they are weak and small. A vole all alone is the only thing that is needed for a toad that has a hungry stomach.
1.13) Tadpoles
It is a pretty bizarre thing related to toads. Toads eat insects and rodents, which is pretty fine. But it would be quite disturbing for you to know that toads also eat tadpoles of their species.
The tadpole stage of a toad provides them with proteins and nutrients which must suffice for their survival. When this happens, it is like eating its offspring. Now, this usually occurs when the toad suffers from extreme hunger.
1.14) Juvenile Rats
Rats are much bigger and tougher versions of the mice species. Rats have a chance against the toads here. But when they are at a much younger stage without full strength, they might fall prey to various toads. Toads generally grow much huger than juvenile rats. This makes young rats an easy meal for toads.
1.15) Toad Eggs
Toad eggs are usually consumed by toads when times are desperate. When they run out of food or when they find it tougher to hunt, toads tend to feed on their very own eggs.
The egg sack is filled with a lot of eggs which generally is rich in nutrients. Now, when a hungry toad comes across a pond that has a lot of eggs floating around in its developing stage, the toad will never hesitate to swallow the whole bunch.
1.16) Juvenile Toads
We have the Juvenile toads as the last food item for our toads which are rough and free out in the wilds. Younger toads are generally swallowed by a much bigger version of it when it loses the battle. Toads have very huge mouths, making the swallowing part quite easy. This might be a surprising answer to the question of what do toads eat.
These were some of the food items which are preferred first by the toad groups. Now, let us take a look at the food items preferred by the toads who are in captivity. Captivity doesn’t mean cruelty here. A lot of people prefer having pets that are different. So in today’s world, even toads are kept and grown as pets. Let us look at what toads eat when they are in captivity.
1.17) Protein-Rich Food
Some of the most protein-rich food items for a captive toad include small untreated chunks of beef and pork. People also feed certain kinds of soft vegetables and fruits to their pet toads. These foods are bought easily from stores because most of these items are human food as well.
1.18) Dry Food
Food items of a dry nature can also be quick snacks for these toads. But most of the toads do not appreciate consuming dried foods. Insects of various kinds are just dried up at hot temperatures and are fed to these creatures at times.
1.19) Canned Food
Canned food has some moisture when compared to that dried food items. Thus, this food item is more effective than the dried ones. Insects, shrimp, slugs, grasshoppers, and even roaches are canned to feed the toad species.
1.20) Live Food
And lastly, the classic act of feeding your pet toads with live insects and other creatures like baby mice and guppies can be included here. People get to watch how their pet toads consume insects in living conditions.
Now, pet owners must always be aware of this one thing. They should not feed any insects which they caught anywhere. It is because the insects might contain toxic substances or be infected with unknown bacteria. This might really prove dangerous to the toad’s life.
These were some of the food items preferred by the toad species in the wild as well as in a captive state. I hope we have provided you with the best answers to the question of what do toads eat. Let us look at some of the interesting toad facts right now.
2) Interesting Facts about Toads
2.1) All Toads Are Frogs, but Not All Frogs Are Toads
Toads are a subspecies of frogs, but frogs aren’t submissive to the term toads. Frog is the parent group and toads fall under one of the categories of frogs. Toads are generally frogs that are heavily modified in terms of appearance and certain abilities.
2.2) Toads Do Not Live in Water Mostly
A lot of frogs are well-known to live in watery terrains. They require moisture to keep their temperature optimal. But toads are just different. They have dry and tougher layers of skin around them which don’t require any moisture. Toads only approach watery terrains during the mating season.
2.3) Toads Have No Teeth
Some of the frogs have teeth to chew down on their prey. But not a single class of toads own teeth. Not a single sub-species of toad is known to have teeth. They just own a large mouth where they can swallow things as a whole.
2.4) People Lick Toads to Get Hallucinogenic Enlightenment
A report has been filed that a lot of people are roaming around national parks, searching for a certain kind of toad. These people have started a habit of licking the Sonoran Desert toad to get hallucinogenic pleasures. The toad’s skin has a certain toxin that induces a psychedelic effect in the user’s mind.
3) Detailed View of Toads
Toads have a lot of characteristics that differentiate them from their closest cousin group known to us by the name of frogs. You cannot differentiate a toad from a frog when you look at it for the first time. But you will come to know that toads are much stronger and sturdy looking when compared to frogs. They usually have a face that seems pretty rough.
There are about 300 classifications of toads in the current world. Toads are widespread in different regions due to their ability to withstand conditions that are hostile to their survival. Apart from the factors such as predators and diseases, none of the other ones like the terrain or the weather can affect toads negatively.
Being an amphibian of invertebrate nature, toads have a lot of survival advantages out in the wild. Toads can only be rarely found in regions of Polynesia, Australia, and Madagascar. Apart from these lands, the only place which doesn’t have a single toad are the polar regions. The two poles have a very harsh climatic condition which is not even fit for humans at times. Thus, toads are no match for areas like that.
Most toads have a certain defense mechanism that they put to use when a predator approaches them. When a predator starts to grab the toad, a kind of poison is emitted from its skin, which has a lot of negative effects on the predator. Not only the predators from the wild, even humans who pose a threat to the toads will start to suffer from nausea and vomiting. If not treated in time, they might even end up getting gastrointestinal and cardiovascular issues.
Even pet animals like cats and dogs are prone to health issues when they come in contact with the toad’s poison. The Panamanian Golden toad is specifically popular for using that technique. Nowadays, people grow toads as their pets. In most cases, pet toads are not so poisonous.
These are some of the most interesting facts related to toads. Hope you found the answer to the question of what do toads eat and some facts associated with the creature. Feel free to check out the related content 16 Interesting facts about Frogs! brought to you by Icytales
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