A few weeks ago I was at work at night & came across a toad by the back steps. I’m pretty sure it’s a Raucous Toad Bufo rangeri. It’s the first toad I’ve seen in South Africa–though I admit that I haven’t actively been looking. You can download its call here (2.8Mb).
As an Australian, the only toads I’m familiar with are Cane Toads Bufo marinus–the destructive feral pest of the warmer parts of Australia. In fact I used to participate in toad collections at nature reserves etc. in an attempt to keep them under control.
While on the topic of amphibians, last year I found the book bargain of a lifetime– a copy of the first (1979) edition of South African Frogs by Neville Passmore and Vincent Carruthers for R5! It even comes with the original vinyl record! (not that I have anything to play it on…)
What do they eat? because i want one but i need to feed it
Like most toads, Raucous Toads eat mostly invertebrates – insects, arachnids, worms etc.
I live in Montagu,Western Cape, South Africa,
Recently (+/- months ) and we assume it is the same toad, has visited our house on the back stoep/verandah at night on a few occasions and, on one occasion during the day. Each time the toad has been removed out of the property and on the day visit taken to the local river +/- 1Km away. We have 3 dogs and don’t want the toad injured. Is this a common occurrence?
Rex
I live in Gonubie, Eastern Cape ( close to East London )
Today I found a tiny little white (albino) frog, sitting vertically against our fridge. Not bigger than about 4cm. I first thought its a piece of prestik, the frog was disguised so well. When I removed it, I noticed that the belly and nearly enitre bottom area is a rather bright red colour. I’ve had a look on the net, but cant seem to find any similur picture of this frog anywhere.
Does any one perhaps know what kind of frog this is?
Ruani
Toads are super interesting. I have been assisting the endangered Western Leopard Toad with their annual migration for over 10 years now in my area. Toads live in your gardens and fields, in compost heaps, under leaf litter, tree bark, tree stumps, wood piles and a friend even had one who lived in his gum boot in the garage!! They migrate to breed, and as they are explosive breeders they do this en masse over a few nights in the year in July/August in the western Cape. They can move up to 5km to a breeding pond and when they are done, they return to your garden or wherever it is they live. They find their way all by themselves, much like we do. The males are browner under the throat, and often will make a ‘snoring’ sound when you try to pick them up. this is to let you know that they are not females. Male Toads often hitch a ride on the females back to the breeding pond. This is called Amplexus. The females are lighter, creamy under the throat, and their front legs are also smaller than the male. handle them all with care. A stressed toad will secrete a white milky substance from it’s parotid gland, found behind the eyes. This is toxic and you can ingest this poison if you are not careful! It is to protect the toad from being eaten by predators. Enjoy the sounds from the Frogs and toads. They are indicator species, so keep us informed of whether the water and environment is healthy enough to sustain life. If you have toads and frogs in your gardens, you are blessed indeed. Also, if you have a pool, install a toad saver…a simple bit of shadecloth siliconed onto a corner of your pool so that they can get out. Remember, unlike some frogs, Toads do not live in water and can drown. They only breed in water. happy frog watching!
@ Ruani
It’s probably a painted reed frog. They vary from striped in the north to plain colours in the Eastern Cape. They are like smarties, you can have them in black, brown, cream, white green etc. and even striped in Swaziland. Found mostly close to water. When I was in primary school we had plenty of these in our garden. They make a huge noise. At first we thought it was some kind of bird. When calling they have a sac under their throats that they inflate, like bagpipes. These sacs are rather large if you consider how small they are. At about 4cm I’ll guess you have a fully grown adult there. It’s many years ago but I remember them as being very small.
Etienne
I have a water feature in my garden that has been in operation for a number of years. This year we have a chorus of Frogs/Toads that are driving us mad at night.
I don’t want to harm them but how do I discourage them from serenading us and more importantly, annoying the neighbours?
Ian, i have the same problem – built a waterfeature to attract ‘nice’ clicking stream frogs, and ended up with guttural/raucous toads. am not sleeping either.
Does anyone know if they squawk like this for only part of the year, or if you are stuck with them once they appear?
i will move them to our Grysbok Nature Reserve at work tomorrow (if i can catch them tonight – the female is as big as my open hand ….) The whole pond is full of eggs (the fish are dining on caviar tonight) , so i was hoping that now that reproduction has occurred, they will move away or at least stop making a racket! To no avail …
Did you ever get feedback on your note of how to discourage them?
Can anyone tell me what the differece is between a raucous and a guttural toad.
Hi Charles, a guttral toad is highly invasive. It will appropriate the breeding sited of endangered Leopard toads and other species. although they are related they are a threat to the endemic species often. There is much available on google now regarding the varieties of toads and their status and habitats.
I am a thirteen year old girl doing a study on these frogs for a science expo at school. I have loved frogs since i set my eyes on them when I was just over two years old. We live on a game farm and our house is inbetween two small ponds and for as long as I remember I have had to go to sleep with the sound of frogs competing against each other at night. I am looking up info on how to ring frogs safely and not harm the frogs as it is needed for my science expo. We want to observe that if we move the frogs a certain distance away if they come back or if they are they are new frogs that move in. So far I havn’t found anything but I will keep looking. If you perhaps know how or even just a web site adress where I could go to to find out how to it would mean a great deal to me. Thanks!
Hi Keri Anne – are you still researching your toads? We have a homing one – and a friend down the road as well – she has even taken hers across town and a river but he came back (same one def as he had a squif toe) about a month later;…This little lady (or gent) of ours has determinedly taken up residence in a corner of our lounge bookcase and refuses to be evacuated – what an amazing homing instinct…not to mention raucous croak!
upload.wikimedia.org
upload.wikimedia.org
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people may think toads are ugly but I think their interesting