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African Tree Toad

September 5, 2022

The African tree toad lives in parts of central Africa. Destruction of their habitat through deforestation has limited their range to the regions' high forests. The African tree toad has thin semi-webbed legs they use to swim and climb trees at night to escape predators.

Fun Facts:

  • The African Tree Toad's scientific name is Nectophryne afra. There is only one other toad in the same genus, the Bate's tree toad.
  • Like the name suggests, this frog species can be found in tropical moist forests in central Africa. Countries include Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
  • The African Tree Toad is colored to camouflage on the forest floor. They may be brown, black, white or tan. However, you won't see a red African Tree Toad.
  • It spends most of its time in the forest to escape predators like fish and rodents.
  • African Tree Toads are carnivores, often feeding on snails, spiders, and worms.
  • The average lifespan of an African Tree Toad in captivity is three to five years.
  • The female toad lays her eggs in a pool of water, and the male stands guard until the eggs hatch in 6 to 12 days.
  • The African Tree Toad gets around by climbing, hopping and swimming. Did you know that these toads can move at speeds of 5mph? It may not sound like much to us, but that's quite a bit for their tiny bodies!
  • Excretions from the toad's skin are used in several medications, which makes them useful to humans. Secretions from the Bufonidae family are used to treat infections, allergies, bites, heart disorders, cancer and even AIDS.
  • It is labeled "of the least concern" by the IUCN.

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