Bufo granulosus

1 Overview

The Shark-skin Toad (Bufo granulosus) is best known for the distinctive layer of skin covering its body, which has considerable medicinal value. It is distributed across Panama, northeastern Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.

Chinese Name: Shark-skin Toad

Binomial Name: Bufo granulosus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Amphibia

Subclass: Lissamphibia (the only extant subclass of Amphibia)

Order: Anura

Suborder: Neobatrachia

Family: Bufonidae

Genus: Bufo

Species: Bufo granulosus

Distribution: Panama, northeastern Peru

2 Physical Characteristics

The Shark-skin Toad resembles a typical toad, with a grey body covered in warty bumps and rather rough skin. It has a docile temperament and is not aggressive toward humans. It is found mainly outside of China.

Its eyes normally protrude. A whitish line runs along the back skin from the head to the base of the body, and the neck is slightly lighter in color; minor regional and individual variation is normal. The belly skin is pale, the snout is pointed, and its movements are agile.