Duttaphrynus melanostictus

This is an Asian common toad.

It has bumpy skin. The bumps have black spines. The toad can be brown or yellow.

These toads live in many lands. They live in parts of Asia. They also live on islands. They like to live near people. They like to live near rivers.

Toads lay eggs in water. The babies are called tadpoles. The tadpoles are black. They live in still water. They grow into toads.

Toads eat many small things. They even eat scorpions! They like to come out at night. They can be found under rocks. They can be found under logs.

This toad makes a white liquid. It comes from its back. This liquid helps keep them safe. It can hurt animals that try to eat them.

The Asian common toad lives in many parts of Asia.

They live in places like India, China, and Thailand. These toads like to live near people. They can be found in farms or cities. They also live near rivers and beaches.

This toad has a very bumpy body. It has black spines on its skin. The bumps are called warts. Every toad has a unique pattern of warts. Scientists use these patterns to tell toads apart. The toad also has special glands on its back. These glands make a white liquid called bufotoxin. This toxin helps keep the toad safe from predators.

These toads breed during the monsoon rains. They lay eggs in ponds or slow rivers. The babies are black tadpoles.

When they are adults, they eat many small things. They even eat scorpions!

Some toads have moved to new places. They arrived in Madagascar in 2011. They have also been seen in Australia. This can be a problem for local animals. Many native animals cannot handle the toad's toxin. This may cause harm to the local wildlife.

The Asian common toad is a very hardy living thing. It has many different names, such as the Asian black-spined toad or the Javanese toad.

These toads are found all across South and Southeast Asia. They live in many places, including India, China, and Thailand. They can be found from sea level up to high mountains. Most of them live in lowland areas near people. They like to stay near farms, cities, and riverbanks.

This toad has a very bumpy body covered in spines. The bumps are called warts, and every toad has a unique pattern. Scientists use these patterns to tell one toad from another. On its back, the toad has large, kidney-shaped glands. These glands produce a milky white liquid called bufotoxin. This toxin is a way the toad stays safe. If a predator tries to eat it, the toxin can be very harmful.

Life for these toads follows the rhythm of the rain. They breed during the monsoon season when it rains a lot. They lay their eggs in ponds or slow-moving rivers. The babies start as black tadpoles in the water.

Once they grow up, the adult toads live on land. They often hide under rocks, logs, or fallen leaves. At night, you might see them near street lamps. They eat many small things, even scorpions!

These toads have moved to new lands where they do not belong. They arrived in Madagascar in 2011 at a port called Toamasina. They were also introduced to Bali in 1958 and Sulawesi in 1974. Since 2000, they have been seen in Australia at least four times. Experts in Australia call them one of the most unwanted species. They worry the toads might cause more damage than the cane toad. This is because they can spread new germs or parasites.

When toads move to new places, it can be a hard job for local animals. In Madagascar, most native animals cannot handle the toad's toxin. A study looked at 77 different species in that area. Almost all of them showed no resistance to the toxin. This means the toads could hurt the local wildlife very much. In Australia, native snakes and lizards might also be in danger. Scientists are working hard to watch for these toads to keep nature safe.

The Asian common toad, known scientifically as *Duttaphrynus melanostictus*, is a highly adaptable amphibian. It is known by many names, including the Asian black-spined toad, the black-spectacled toad, and the Javanese toad. This species is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. It can be found in many countries, such as India, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. These toads inhabit a huge range of environments. They live from sea level up to high altitudes. Most of them prefer disturbed lowland habitats. This includes riverbanks, beaches, and areas where humans live, like farms and cities.

Physically, the toad has very distinct features that help scientists identify it. Its skin is covered in spiny warts on the dorsal side, which is the back. The patterns of these warts are unique to every individual. This allows researchers to use them for individual identification in studies. The head has several bony ridges. These include the canthal ridge along the snout and the supraorbital ridge above the eyes. The snout is short and blunt. A very important feature is the tympanum, or ear drum. This is very distinct and is at least two-thirds as wide as the diameter of the eye.

One of the most important biological mechanisms of this toad is its defense system. On its back, the toad has prominent, kidney-shaped glands called parotoids. These glands secrete a milky white substance known as bufotoxin. This toxin acts as a chemical shield against predators. When a predator tries to eat the toad, the toxin is released. This makes the toad a dangerous meal. The toad's coloration also helps it blend in. Its back is usually yellowish or brownish with black spines. Its underside, however, is unmarked or spotted.

The life cycle of the Asian common toad is closely tied to the monsoon rains. During the monsoon, the toads breed in still or slow-flowing water. This includes ponds, pools, and rivers. The females lay eggs that hatch into black tadpoles. These larvae live in the water and can recognize their kin. Research shows that tadpoles grown in sibling groups undergo metamorphosis faster than those in mixed groups. Once they reach adulthood, the toads are terrestrial. They live on land under rocks, logs, or leaf litter. They are often active at night and may gather near street lamps to eat insects like termites.

This species has become an invasive problem in several parts of the world. It arrived in Madagascar in 2011 via the port of Toamasina. It was also introduced to Bali in 1958 and Sulawesi in 1974. Since the year 2000, the toad has been detected in Australia at least four times. In Australia, it is described as one of the "10 most unwanted" species. Some experts believe it could be even more damaging than the famous cane toad. This is because it can compete with native species, spread exotic parasites, and introduce new pathogens.

The danger to native wildlife is a major scientific concern. In Madagascar, native predators have been isolated from such toads since the Jurassic period. This means they may lack resistance to the toad's toxins. A study analyzed the Na+/K+-ATPase gene, which controls the sodium-potassium pump, in 77 Malagasy species. All but one species failed to show resistance to the toxin. This suggests the toad could cause a massive biodiversity crisis. In places like New Guinea, the near-threatened New Guinea quoll is also at risk. Native snakes and lizards may suffer severe declines if the toad spreads.

Understanding the movement of these toads is vital for conservation. Because the toads can travel through human traffic, they spread to new areas quickly. This creates a need for strong environmental quarantine and surveillance. In Australia, experts are calling for high-priority contingency plans. They want to prevent the toad from establishing a permanent population. Protecting native animals requires monitoring how these toads interact with local ecosystems. By studying the toad's biology and movement, scientists hope to protect the balance of nature in these sensitive regions.