Bony-headed Toad - Citizen Conservation

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Ingerophrynus galeatus

Bony-headed Toad

Citizen Conservation / Bony-headed Toad

Some like it wet. The Bony-headed Toad lives quite close to water. It hops around in the soil close to streams in lowland rainforests in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China. The toads, growing up to nine inches long, are well camouflaged in the leaf litter due to their brown and olive military look.

Toads of the World

The Bony-Headed Toad is one of 610 toad species worldwide. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends

Toads populate all continents. A typical example: the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans). | Kirsanov Valeriy Vladimirovich, Shutterstock — Toads populate all continents. A typical example: the Asiatic toad (*Bufo gargarizans*). | Kirsanov Valeriy Vladimirovich, Shutterstock

Some toads, such as the Cane Toad (Rhinella marina), seem gigantic. | reptiles4all, Shutterstock — Some toads, such as the Cane Toad (*Rhinella marina*), seem gigantic. | reptiles4all, Shutterstock

Others, such as the Pumpkin Toadlets (Brachycephalus), are extremely small, with a length of only 1–2 centimeters. | Pedro Bernardo, Shutterstock — Others, such as the Pumpkin Toadlets (*Brachycephalus*), are extremely small, with a length of only 1–2 centimeters. | Pedro Bernardo, Shutterstock

Cururu toad, Rhinella schneideri, from South America. Its dry skin, rich with glands and warts, is very typical for toads. The glands behind their ears secrete poison as a protection against predators. | Fabio Maffei, Shutterstock — Cururu toad, *Rhinella schneideri*, from South America. Its dry skin, rich with glands and warts, is very typical for toads. The glands behind their ears secrete poison as a protection against predators. | Fabio Maffei, Shutterstock

The Colorado Toad (Incilius alvarius) from the southwest of North America even produces psychoactive substances. | Bernhard Richter, Shutterstock — The Colorado Toad (*Incilius alvarius*) from the southwest of North America even produces psychoactive substances. | Bernhard Richter, Shutterstock

Most toads live on the ground and are well camouflaged by their skin color, which resembles soil or leaves. This is a Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita). | Marek R. Swadzba, Shutterstock — Most toads live on the ground and are well camouflaged by their skin color, which resembles soil or leaves. This is a Natterjack Toad (*Epidalea calamita*). | Marek R. Swadzba, Shutterstock

Others try to signify that they are inedible with their bright colors, such as the Cerro Campana Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus zeteki). | Justin Black, Shutterstock — Others try to signify that they are inedible with their bright colors, such as the Cerro Campana Stubfoot Toad (*Atelopus zeteki*). | Justin Black, Shutterstock

The South American Melanophryniscus toads (here: Melanophryniscus stelzneri) flaunts wasp-like colors to warn predators. | Peter Reijners, Shutterstock — The South American Melanophryniscus toads (here: *Melanophryniscus stelzneri*) flaunts wasp-like colors to warn predators. | Peter Reijners, Shutterstock

But even “normal” toads, such as the Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus), can have pretty colors. | Matt Jeppson, Shutterstock — But even “normal” toads, such as the Red-spotted Toad (*Anaxyrus punctatus*), can have pretty colors. | Matt Jeppson, Shutterstock

Some toads, such as the Guiana Shield Leaf Toad (Rhinella lescurei), deviate from the usual form. | reptiles4all, Shutterstock — Some toads, such as the Guiana Shield Leaf Toad (*Rhinella lescurei*), deviate from the usual form. | reptiles4all, Shutterstock

Male toads try to attract females by croaking, such as the American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus. | Gerald Marella, Shutterstock — Male toads try to attract females by croaking, such as the American Toad, *Anaxyrus americanus*. | Gerald Marella, Shutterstock

The so-called “Amplexus” is like foreplay for toads: the female carries the male on her back for days before mating, such as the Guttural Toads (Sclerophrys gutturalis) seen here. | Aleksey Stemmer, Shutterstock — The so-called “Amplexus” is like foreplay for toads: the female carries the male on her back for days before mating, such as the Guttural Toads (*Sclerophrys gutturalis*) seen here. | Aleksey Stemmer, Shutterstock

They then usually deposit their eggs in the water, like the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) shown here. | Jaroslav Moravcik, Shutterstock — They then usually deposit their eggs in the water, like the Common Toad (*Bufo bufo*) shown here. | Jaroslav Moravcik, Shutterstock

Very hard-headed

The female wears the pants in this relationship: its name already hints at the strong bone crest that make the toad look almost like it is wearing a helmet. Both sexes have a bone crest between their eyes and a large secretion gland behind their ears, but in the female, the crest grows up to the tip of its snout.

Development from Egg to Toad

A couple during oviposition. | Anna Rauhaus

The spawn of 2000 to 3000 eggs is tied in strings around rocks. | Anna Rauhaus

After only a day, the larvae already wiggle in their eggs, ready to hatch in a few hours. | Anna Rauhaus

Day 4 after oviposition: a tadpole with an already recognizable mouth, scratching algae from the rocks. | Thomas Ziegler

The tadpoles are already swimming and eating independently. | Christian Niggemann

The beginnings of hind legs are visible. | Thomas Ziegler

At three weeks, the joints in the hind legs are fully developed and help the toads walk. | Anna Rauhaus

Almost 4 weeks after the eggs were laid: the arrival of the front legs is imminent. | Thomas Ziegler

The front legs are fully developed, and the toad is beginning to develop its coloration. | Thomas Ziegler

After about a month, the little toads leave the water. They still have remnants of their tails. | Thomas Ziegler

All done – now they are real toads. | Thomas Ziegler

The Munchies

Considering how sturdy the Bony-headed Toad is, it is quite unusual that it prefers eating small animals. Even when it is fully grown and has a huge appetite, it eats tiny snacks such as fruit flies – lots of them.

The mating process, judging by human standards, is rather unromantic

Toad Love

At the beginning of the rainy season, the toads start to mate. In the nearest body of water, the males try to lure the females with their shouts. If this succeeds, the male, which is smaller, clings to the female’s back. In this so-called Amplexus, the animals are sometimes stuck to one another for days before they finally deposit their eggs in the water. The mating process, judging by human standards, is rather unromantic: The female deposits its eggs in long strings, the male adds his sperm into the water – done. Their offspring are then left to take care of themselves.

The Bony-headed Toad’s natural habitat. | Thomas Ziegler

Do Not Disturb

Despite the fact that Bony-headed Toads are comparatively rare, they are not yet considered an endangered species because their habitat is spread across such a wide area. They live exclusively in undisturbed rainforests, which are getting more and more scarce in southeast Asia. In Vietnam, the Bony-headed Toad has already been classified as “endangered” on the Red List. This little toad is only one of many thousands of species that depend on the lowland rainforest ecosystem.

Basic Information on Biology and Breeding

Suitable for inexperienced breeders. Terrarium size for a couple: 60 x 40 x 40 cm. Terrarium size for a group: 100–150 x 60 x 60 cm. Temperatures of 24–26 ° C year-round, only a little cooler at night. The terrarium can be arranged in the style of a rainforest, with lots of pools. The toads are usually nocturnal, but also frequently observed during the day. They eat small animals ranging from fruit flies to crickets. The tadpoles eat fish food.

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Basic Information on Biology and Breeding

More Species

SPECIES

Toads of the World

Toads of the World

Development from Egg to Toad

The mating process, judging by human standards, is rather unromantic

The Bony-headed Toad’s natural habitat. | Thomas Ziegler

Basic Information on Biology and Breeding

Basic Information on Biology and Breeding

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