Bufo melanostictus

Duttaphrynus melanostictus is commonly called Asian common toad, Asian black-spined toad, Asian toad, black-spectacled toad, common Sunda toad, and Javanese toad. It is probably a complex of more than one true toad species that is widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia.

CHARACTERISTICS

• The head features several bony ridges: one along the snout's edge (canthal ridge), another in front of the eye (preorbital), one above the eye (supraorbital), another behind the eye (postorbital), and a short one between the eye and ear (orbitotympanic).

• The snout is short and blunt, with a broader space between the eyes compared to the width of the upper eyelid.

• The ear drum, or tympanum, is distinctive and at least as wide as two-thirds of the eye's diameter.

• The first finger often exceeds the second in length, and the toes are at least half webbed.

• A warty tubercle is present just before the junction of the thigh and shank (subarticular tubercle), and two moderate ones appear on the shank (metatarsus).

• No skin fold is observed along the tarsus.

• When the hind leg is held parallel along the body's side, the "knee" (tarsometatarsal articulation) reaches either the tympanum or the eye.

• The dorsal side is adorned with spiny warts. Prominent, kidney-shaped, or elongated elliptical parotoids secrete milky white Bufotoxin. This dorsal side exhibits a yellowish or brownish hue, with black spines and ridges. The underside is either unmarked or spotted.

• In males, a subgular vocal sac is present, along with black pads on the inner fingers, aiding in gripping the female during copulation.

REPRODUCTION

• The breeding season for Bufo melanostictus typically occurs during the monsoon season when there is an abundance of rain and temporary pools of water are formed. The exact timing can vary depending on the region and local climate.

• Male toads gather around water bodies such as ponds, ditches, and temporary rain-filled pools.

• Males produce a distinctive advertisement call to attract females. These calls are often described as a series of high-pitched, musical trills or chirps.

• When a female approaches, the male grasps her in a mating embrace known as "amplexus." In this position, the male fertilizes the eggs externally as the female releases them into the water.

• Female Bufo melanostictus typically lay their eggs in shallow water, often attaching them to submerged vegetation or debris.

• The eggs are typically laid in long strings or gelatinous masses and can number from a few hundred to several thousand, depending on the size and age of the female.

• Eggs hatch into tadpoles within a few days, depending on water temperature and other environmental factors.

• Tadpoles are fully aquatic and undergo a period of growth and development in the water.

• They primarily feed on plant matter, algae, and detritus.

• As tadpoles grow and develop, they undergo metamorphosis.

• During this process, they gradually develop limbs, lose their gills, and transform into juvenile toads.

• Metamorphosis can take several weeks to a couple of months, again depending on environmental conditions.

• Juvenile toads leave the water and become terrestrial. They have fully developed lungs for breathing air.

• On land, they feed on a diet of small invertebrates, insects, and other suitable prey.

HABITAT

• These toads have been documented at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,800 meters (5,900 feet). 

• They primarily inhabit disturbed lowland environments, which include upper beaches, riverbanks, as well as human-influenced agricultural and urban areas. Their presence in closed forests is relatively rare.