Do you know what the toad's baby is called?
The crapelet!
The Common Toad is one of five species of toad (and spadefoot!) native to the Lake Geneva basin. It can be recognised by its stocky appearance, its warty, brown body and its very prominent eyes. In fact, its eyes are directed sideways and downwards, as this is the direction in which it will seek out its prey. It is also the largest of the toads, growing up to 14 cm.
Like all amphibians and reptiles, the Common Toad is cold-blooded and sensitive to frost. In winter, it has to find a way to avoid freezing. Some frogs, red and green species for example, spend the winter in the water; near mud, it is less cold, and as they breathe through their skin, the mixing of the water keeps them supplied with oxygen.
However, toads do not breathe through their skin, so they cannot spend the winter underwater. For 6 months, from around October, the common toad stays in a hole it has dug itself, in scree or rubble: this is the toad wintering period. They dig with their hind legs until they reach the frost line. Those that don't dig deep enough risk dying during the winter. The Common Toad then lowers its metabolism so that it uses very little energy: even its heart rate and body temperature drop, and as a general rule, it does not eat.
Common Toads will emerge from their hiding places in spring, when they are ready to breed. At this time, males can often be seen clinging to the backs of females, so as to be sure of being able to fertilise her eggs once she has released them... as long as another male doesn't dislodge him in the meantime!
The toad is not the only one in our region to slow down its metabolism to get through the winter: European badgers, common hedgehogs, Alpine marmots and bats spend the winter sleeping to save energy.
I think we're getting close to winter ... so ... good night!
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Information: karch.ch, La Libellule
