IDENTIFICATION  

This is a big (up to 9 cm of total length) anura (amphibian without a tail as an adult). It has a wide head, with prominent eyes, a horizontal pupil and a striking yellow or greenish iris. The parotid glands (glands secreting defensive toxins against predators, located behind the eye and on the eardrum) are highly developed and parallel. The front limbs are robust and the later ones are short, therefore it can not jump. The skin has a very variable colour pattern, although green spots predominate on a lighter background. It usually has a very clear vertebral line (longitudinal line on the back that divides the back in two symmetrical halves). On its back, it exhibits numerous warts of orange or reddish tones. The larvae or tadpoles are very small (less than 3 cm in total length) and of a uniform blackish colour.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE (HABITAT)

This species is present in a wide variety of biotopes, provided it can find adequate water points to reproduce. These points are usually temporary and shallow. It shows a certain preference for open areas, with scarce vegetation, so it adapts very well to human-modified environments, especially to farming lands. Temporary or seasonal pools, where the water does not last for long and is shallow, are used for their reproduction. For this reason, larvae are able to develop quickly. It is this adaptation to the reproductive habitat that avoids competition with other amphibians: they can colonize places that are unfavourable to other species. It reproduces in abandoned quarries, ditches and even overturned vehicles flooded on dirt roads.

HOW DOES IT LIVE?

Adult toads show twilight and nocturnal activity, spending the day in other animals burrows or under rocks.  During the mating period they become more diurnal. In summer, they shelter in refuge offering sufficiently humid conditions. Outside the reproductive period they behave like an animal with terrestrial habits, especially active during wet nights. Adults prey mainly on beetles and ants. The larvae feed on algae, organic detritus and, to a lesser extent, carrion.

HOW DOES IT REPRODUCE?

The beginning of the rutting period is very influenced by meteorology. Egg laying has been observed in autumn, although it normally occurs from February to March. The males attract the females with a striking song they emit from the pond. Once they reach the water they embrace the females (amplexus) and fertilize the very long gelatinous strings of eggs while the females is laying them in the water. They can lay up to 4000 eggs. A few days later, the larvae hatch then turn into tiny toads within a month. Even so, it is not uncommon for many tadpoles of this species to die when the ponds are drained by a "calculation failure" of the parents, or an adverse meteorology impeding the maintenance of water in a liquid state.

WHERE CAN WE SEE IT IN MALAGA AND ON THE STAGES OF THE GREAT PATH?

The natterjack toad is present in most of the Malaga province, although it seems to be lacking in the steepest and forested areas of the Ronda mountains range and in the more intensive Axarquía farming lands. We can find it from the sea level to the highest elevations of Sierra Tejeda, at 2,000 m altitude. In the Great Path, we can find it on all stages, except on numbers 3, 27 and 31.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION - THREAT (INVENTORY)

It is part of the Andalusian Wildlife Species under Special Protection List. Like most amphibians, it is very sensitive to the loss of aquatic habitats, necessary for its reproduction. The abandonment of traditional agricultural and livestock systems and the development of intensive farms significantly affects this species which is very linked to transformed areas.

CURIOUS FACTS  

The vulgar name of this toad alludes to its peculiar way of moving, making few steps as it races, since its short hind legs do not enable it to jump. It is an exceptional case among the anurans (frogs and toads), since the rest of the species usually use the jump as a means of habitual locomotion, especially when it has to flee from a threat.

SIMILAR SPECIES (IT CAN BE MISTAKEN WITH...) 

It can be confused with the Perez's frog. Its smaller size, the parallel arrangement of the parotid glands and the greenish or yellowish colour of the iris are very useful to differentiate it. It is more difficult to differentiate their larvae from those of the common toad. However, the most useful criteria is usually the type of water masses where larvae are found: shallow and seasonal in the natterjack toad, whereas deeper and more durable in the common toad.