Japanese Common Toadニホンヒキガエル

Species Data

Classification

Anura / Bufonidae Source

Distribution

Native to Honshu (west of the Suzuka Mountains), Shikoku, Kyushu, and Yakushima; introduced populations exist on Hokkaido and Sado Island. Source

Did You Know?

• The old Japanese nickname "shiroku no gama" ("four-six toad") is often mistaken as a reference to its four front toes and six hind toes, but actually describes the nuptial pads that develop on breeding males' forelimbs. Source
• Females lay eggs in long gelatinous strings in ponds, puddles, and rice paddies, producing an enormous clutch of 6,000 to 14,000 eggs at once. Source
• Its skin toxins deter most predators, but the tiger keelback snake appears resistant to them and is one of the few predators known to actively prey on this toad. Source

FAQ

How many eggs does a Japanese common toad lay?

Females lay eggs in long gelatinous strings in ponds, puddles, and paddies, producing between 6,000 and 14,000 eggs in a single clutch. Source

What does the nickname "shiroku no gama" mean?

It is often misread as referring to four front toes and six hind toes, but the name actually describes the swollen nuptial pads that appear on breeding males' forelimbs. Source

Does anything actually eat the Japanese common toad despite its toxins?

The tiger keelback snake is one of its few significant predators, apparently having evolved resistance to the toad's skin toxins, which it then repurposes for its own defense. Source