The water toad, also called the Korean water toad, is a small toad that, unlike most toads, lives in and around fast mountain streams. It is native to the mountains of central Korea and eastern Liaoning in northeastern China, and it is not found in the United States. Pairs form in late fall or early winter and stay clasped together underwater for months, then lay eggs under stream rocks in spring.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A small toad, about 1.6–2.8 in (4–7 cm) long; females are larger. Males are usually dark brown, while females range from yellowish or gray to reddish or dark brown, often with dark spots. The skin is smooth for a toad, the eardrum isn't visible, and the hind feet are well webbed.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- mountain streams
- wooded stream banks
- Range
- Central Korean Peninsula and eastern Liaoning Province, China. Not native to North America.
- Preferred conditions
- Wooded streamsides at about 650–2,300 ft (200–700 m) elevation.
Behavior
- Diet
- Small insects such as flies, earthworms, and aquatic insects.
- Activity
- Mostly active at night, but also out in daytime during summer rains. Spends the winter underwater.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- Between November and January, males and females pair up in streams and stay clasped together for months under the ice before spawning in spring.
- Nest
- Eggs are laid in strings in fast-flowing water, tucked under rocks.
- Clutch size
- 600–1,300 eggs
Cautions
- Cautions
- Like other toads, it is poisonous. People in Korea have been seriously poisoned after eating it.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
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