Why Toads Pee On You When You Pick Them Up (Southern Toad)

The Southern Toad has a few interesting defense mechanisms it will employ to deter predators. Have you ever wondered why toads pee on you when you pick them up? It's a defense mechanism! In this video, I also go over the differences of frogs vs toads. One of the key differences is that toads have a parotoid gland, or poison gland, located behind the eye. Toads also have dry skin with warty skin. Despite this, it is actually a myth that toads cause warts.

Southern Toad (Anaxyrus (Bufo) terrestris) description:
The average body length of southern toads is 41-75 mm (1.6-2.9 in), although some individuals found on isolated island populations can reach 113 mm (4.4 in). Males are smaller than females, and typically have a darker throat during the breeding season. General coloration is usually brown but can vary to dark gray, blackish, or even brick red. Several dark spots or blotches are frequently present on the back and upper sides, each surrounding one or more warts. A light line extends partway down the middorsal of some southern toads, although it may be obscure or absent in others. The belly is grayish white, while the chest is spotted. The skin of these toads is dry and warty, and they have an elongated, enlarged parotoid gland behind each eye. High cranial crests extend from pronounced knobs and approach each other toward the snout. The distinctive knobs project upward in front of the parotoid glands, often giving the animal a horned appearance.

Видео Why Toads Pee On You When You Pick Them Up (Southern Toad) канала 21st Century Nature