The Asian common toad

An Asian common toad is seen foraging in Bijia Mountain in Futian District in this July 7, 2022 photo. 

The Asian common toad

Probably the most widespread toad you can find everywhere in Shenzhen, from the major parks to your apartment complex parking lot, is the Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanosticus). Native to Asia, this medium-sized toad features prominent parotid glands on the back of the head and long black thick crests bordering the animal’s eyes, with a head relatively small compared to the size of its body, around 8 cm at the max. The females are usually bigger than the males.

黑眶蟾蜍在深圳极为常见，从市政公园到小区公寓，你都能发现它们的踪迹。这种原产于亚洲的中型蟾蜍具膨大的耳后腺，面部的骨质脊棱从吻部一直延伸并包围眼部，形成一个黑色的眼眶。比起硕大的身体，它们的头部显得很小，长度最多只有8厘米。雌蛙的体型一般比雄蛙要大。

Their legs are shorter compared to those of other frogs, which would use their legs to perform powerful leaps. The Asian common toad will most likely walk and perform small leaps to move or hide from predators; but in order to counter this reduced mobility, this fascinating amphibian produces a toxin that will keep predators away and make them prefer feasting on other frogs.

黑眶蟾蜍的腿部比其他蛙类短，机动性不强，只能在遭遇天敌的时候作短距离的跳跃，以期摆脱危险。然而，看似笨拙的它们其实身怀剧毒，一般不会成为掠食者的目标。

An Asian common toad is seen in a park in Shenzhen in this July 7, 2022 photo. 

The color of this species is highly variable, the most common one being a yellowish or light brown color, probably greyish in juveniles, but always showing black spots over their bumpy rough skin. Sometimes, they can show signs of partial reddish colorations over part of their bodies or even over the whole body.

黑眶蟾蜍体色多变，以黄色或浅棕色居多，亚成体一般呈灰色；体表崎岖，布满大小不一的疣粒及黑色斑点；个别情况下，它们的体色也会变红。

An Asian common toad is seen in a park in Shenzhen in this June 5, 2021 photo. 

This particular amphibian is also highly fertile and can produce thousands of eggs each time and sometimes twice a year, producing up to 80,000 eggs per year. After a three-month metamorphosis process, the new toads are ready to emerge from the water.

黑眶蟾蜍的繁殖能力极强，雌性一次可产上千枚卵，有时一年繁殖两次，最多情况下每年可产一共8万枚卵。蝌蚪在水下生活三个月后才能长出四肢，迈向成年。

Asian common toads feed on basically anything that crosses their way, being opportunistic predators, meaning they don’t go hunting for a specific prey but just enjoy whatever is available for them to grab. However, as invertebrate animals are their preferred prey, insects and spiders are probably the most likely animals they will eat.

黑眶蟾蜍食性很杂，很少主动捕猎，是有什么吃什么的机会主义者。不过，人们发现它们似乎更爱吃肉，譬如昆虫、蜘蛛等无脊椎动物。

An Asian common toad  is seen foraging in Bijia Mountain in Futian District in this March 20, 2021 photo. 

Although most of their predators will suffer from their poisonous nature, some species seem not bothered by it, as is the case with the Chinese cobra or crows.

虽然黑眶蟾蜍的毒液让大部分捕食者敬而远之，也有少部分物种并不受其影响，像中华眼镜蛇和乌鸦就依然会以它们为食。

Frogs are among the many creatures that are part of the environment. We should all help protect our frog friends’ environment, so let’s hop to it!

黑眶蟾蜍是蛙类大家庭的一员，也是大自然的重要一份子。所以我们要立刻行动起来，努力保护好它们的家园。