it is found in new zealand .

the wingspan is 11 – 12 mm .

the forewings are bright ochreous , spotted with whitish .

the markings are deep reddish ochreous , somewhat mixed with blackish .

the hindwings are dark fuscous .

epichorista zatrophana

epichorista zatrophana is a species of moth of the tortricidae family . it is found in new zealand .
( harmologa zatrophana , meyr . , trans . n . z . inst . , 1882 , 46 . )
zatrophana meyrick , 1883 ( harmologa ) , trans . new zealand inst . 15 : 46 . tl : new zealand , christchurch , mid canterbury . holotype : bmnh . male .
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perversa meyrick , 1912 ( epichorista ) , exotic microlepid . 1 : 9 . tl : south africa , natal , camperdown . lectotype : bmnh . female .
sicca meyrick , 1912 ( epichorista ) , exotic microlepid . 1 : 9 . tl : madagascar , madagascar ( antananarivo ) . holotype : bmnh . male .
carcharodes meyrick , 1914 ( epichorista ) , trans . new zealand inst . 46 : 104 . tl : new zealand . kaeo , northland . holotype : bmnh . male .
lindsayi philpott , 1928 ( epichorista ) , rec . canterbury mus 3 : 181 . tl : new zealand , little river , mid canterbury . holotype : cmnz . male .
abdita philpott , 1924 ( epichorista ) , trans . proc . new zealand inst 55 : 664 . tl : new zealand , mt . arthur . holotype : nzac . male .
phaeocoma meyrick , 1914 ( epichorista ) , exotic microlepid . 1 : 195 . tl : malawi , nyasaland [ malawi ] ( mlanje plateau ) . holotype : bmnh . male .
candida clarke , 1926 ( epichorista ) , trans . new zealand inst . 56 : 419 . tl : new zealand . l . manapouri , fiordland . holotype : amnz . female .
samata diakonoff , 1941 ( epichorista ) , treubia 18 : 41 . tl : new guinea , north east new guinea ( huon gulf , simbang ) . holotype : mnhu . female .
theatralis philpott , 1918 ( epichorista ) , trans . proc . new zealand inst 50 : 128 . tl : new zealand . mt . cleugnearn , fiordland . holotype : nzac . female .
tenebrosa philpott , 1917 ( epichorista ) , trans . proc . new zealand inst 49 : 243 . tl : new zealand , ben lomond , otago lakes . holotype : amnz . male .
aethocoma meyrick , 1923 ( epichorista ) , bull . mus . natn . hist . nat . 1923 : 563 . tl : angola , angola ( dongo ) . holotype : mnhn . male .
mimica philpott , 1930 ( epichorista ) , rec . auckland inst . mus . 1 : 5 . tl : new zealand , mt . ida , central otago . holotype : amnz . male .
benevola meyrick , 1920 ( epichorista ) , voyage de ch . alluaud et r . jeannel en afrique orientalei i microlepidoptera : 51 . tl : ? east africa , east africa ( landjoro ) . lectotype : mnhn . male .
armigera diakonoff , 1956 ( epichorista ) , proc . konin . neder . akad . weten . ( c ) 59 : 634 . tl : new guinea , british new guinea ( papua , mount tafa ) . holotype : bmnh . female .
mesosceptra meyrick , 1920 ( epichorista ) , voyage de ch . alluaud et r . jeannel en afrique orientalei i microlepidoptera : 53 . tl : kenya , east africa [ kenya ] ( mt . kenya ) . lectotype : mnhn . male .
passaleuta meyrick , 1920 ( epichorista ) , voyage de ch . alluaud et r . jeannel en afrique orientalei i microlepidoptera : 53 . tl : kenya , east africa [ kenya ] ( mt . kinangop ) . lectotype : mnhn . male .
prodigiosa meyrick , 1920 ( epichorista ) , voyage de ch . alluaud et r . jeannel en afrique orientalei i microlepidoptera : 52 . tl : kenya , east africa [ kenya ] ( mt . kenya ) . lectotype : mnhn . male .
psoropis meyrick , 1920 ( epichorista ) , voyage de ch . alluaud et r . jeannel en afrique orientalei i microlepidoptera : 51 . tl : kenya , east africa [ kenya ] ( mt . kinangop ) . lectotype : mnhn . male .
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[ read before the philosophical institute of canterbury , 2 nd october , 1884 . ]
in the transactions for 1882 . it contains nine additional species , of which eight are new , the ninth having been previously known from the hawaiian islands ; and also some corrections of classification .
i propose to recast the definitions of the tortricidæ and grapholithidæ . thus : —
tortricidæ : lower median veins of hindwings almost always without basal pectination ; vein 2 of forewings rising before posterior third of lower margin of cell ; genital uncus of male developed .
grapholithidæ : lower median vein of hindwings pectinated with hairs towards base ; vein 2 of forewings rising before posterior third of lower margin of cell ; genital uncus of male not developed .
i am indebted to professor fernald , well known as a special authority on this group , for the information on which this change is founded . he states that the genital uncus never occurs in the grapholithidæ , and considers that such genera as ctenopseustis , hereafter described , should be therefore referred to the tortricidæ ; which amounts to saying that the possession of the uncus is a more valuable systematic character than the possession of the basal pectination . as professor fernald has devoted much labour to the investigation of material from all parts of the world , there is little doubt that he is correct , and i have adopted his suggestion . i have not yet found leisure to examine the genitalia of all the tortricina of this region , but i have investigated a few species , which appear to confirm his views ; and in the case of the pyralidina i have found the same character valuable for family separation . the genital uncus ( when present ) is a hard cylindrical , more or less downwards - hooked , process from the apex of the abdomen , in the male , and in some groups of lepidoptera assumes complex forms .
the occurrence of the hawaiian chiloides straminea is interesting , and may be compared with the presence of the genus heterocrossa in both regions . probably they extend over the intervening space , but i have not at present any evidence of this . the other additional species are all of genera already recorded from new zealand , and mostly interesting as representatives of the old indigenous fauna . it seems probable that proselena , harmologa , and heterocrossa will be found to be richer in species than i had previously anticipated . i think that cacæcia alopecana is also peculiarly
interesting in another way , from its bearing on general theories of development , since it is my opinion that although now justifiably to be regarded as a species , it has reached this stage only within extremely recent times ; i think it would be interesting to experiment on the larvæ of this species with different food - plants , and conversely to try the effect of feeding c . excessana on phyllocladus .
thorax smooth . antennæ in male serrate , with whorls of moderate cilia . palpi long , straight , porrected , triangularly scaled . forewings with costa in male simple . hindwings broader than forewings . forewings with 12 veins , 7 and 8 separate , 7 to hindmargin , secondary cell well - defined . hindwings with 8 veins , 3 and 4 remote at base , 4 and 5 almost from a point , 6 and 7 approximated towards base .
allied to bactra , stph . ( aphelia , stph . ) , but differing in the separation of veins 3 and 4 of the hindwings , and the longer palpi ; only the species here given is known .
( chiloides straminea , butl . , ann . mag . nat . hist . , 1881 , 393 . )
media , alis ant . ochreis , venis omnibus lineisque inter venas punctatis , puncto etiam disci postico nigrescentibus ; post . griseis .
male , female . —17–24 mm . head , palpi , antennæ , and thorax pale ochreous . abdomen whitish . legs pale ochreous , posterior pair ochreous - whitish . forewings elongate , oblong , costa moderately arched , apex round - pointed , hindmargin slightly sinuate , rather strongly oblique ; light ochreous ; all veins marked with fine fuscous or blackish lines ; intervenal spaces also marked each with a fine incomplete , often interrupted or dotted , fuscous or blackish line ; a larger dark fuscous dot in disc beyond middle ; inner margin dotted with black : cilia pale ochreous . hindwings grey , towards base lighter ; cilia white , with a grey line .
recalls some forms of bactra lanceolana , hb . , from which it is easiest separated by the structural characters .
hamilton , taranaki , wanganui , and otaki ; common amongst rushes ( juncus ) in swampy ground , from january to march . also occurs in the hawaiian islands , from which it was originally described ; i have seen butler ' s type , and there is no doubt whatever of its identity ; probably therefore it will be found to range through all the pacific islands .
this generic name should be substituted for aphelia , stph . , of which lanceolana , hb . , is the representative in new zealand . i make this change on the authority of professor fernald , who has specially investigated the point , and is doubtless correct .
media , alis ant . ochreo - rufis , area basali externe non angulata , fascia media perobliqua latiore recta , strigulaque subapicali saturatioribus , ciliis purpureo - fuscis ; post . flavido - albis , apice flavidiore .
female . —20 mm . head , palpi , and thorax purplish - ochreous . antennæ ochreous - whitish . abdomen and legs yellow - whitish , anterior and middle pair suffused with reddish - fuscous . forewings broad , oblong , costa anteriorly very strongly arched , apex round - pointed , produced , hindmargin strongly sinuate , hardly oblique ; purplish - ochreous , obscurely strigulated with greyish - purple ; a slightly darker purplish basal patch , its outer edge extending from ⅕ of costa to ⅖ of inner margin , not angulated ; central fascia straight , broad throughout , greyish purple , suffused with bright reddish - ochreous on upper half posteriorly , running from middle of costa to anal angle ; a more distinct strigula from ¾ of costa to hindmargin below middle : cilia rather dark fuscous purplish . hindwings yellow - whitish , towards apex more yellowish , somewhat spotted with pale grey towards inner margin ; cilia yellow - whitish .
a handsome species , readily known by the different form of wing , straight outline of basal patch , and broad central fascia ; the costa is very much more strongly arched anteriorly than in any other species . although the male is not known to me , i have no doubt of the generic position .
magna , alis ant . albido - ochreis , linea disci breviore obscura , punctisque plerisque posticis sparsis nigris ; post . albidis .
male . —27 mm . head , palpi , and antennæ whitish - ochreous , palpi externally fuscous - tinged . thorax pale yellowish - ochreous . abdomen and legs whitish - ochreous , anterior and middle pair infuscated . forewings elongate - triangular , costa slightly arched , apex round - pointed , hindmargin hardly perceptibly sinuate , oblique ; whitish - ochreous ; a cloudy central streak from base to beyond middle more yellowish - ochreous , containing several small dots of black scales , and an ill - defined longitudinal blackish line in disc , extending from ⅓ ⅔ ; some fine scattered black dots towards hindmargin : cilia pale whitish - ochreous . hindwings and cilia whitish .
singularly distinct by its comparatively gigantic size , pale colouring , and blackish discal line .
arthur ' s pass , in january ; one specimen on the grassy mountain - side at 4 , 700 feet .
parva , alis ant . fusco - ochreis , innotatis ; post . saturate griseis .
male . —12–14 mm . head , palpi , and thorax brownish - ochreous . antennæ dark fuscous . abdomen dark grey . legs whitish - ochreous . forewings elongate - oblong , costa moderately arched , apex round - pointed , hindmargin straight , oblique ; uniform brownish - ochreous : cilia light brownish - ochreous . hindwings dark grey , posteriorly still darker ; cilia pale grey or whitish , with a grey line .
closely allied to p . siriana , meyr . , but lighter , more ochreous , and recognizable by the absence of any discal dot in the forewings , and the paler cilia of the hindwings .
castle hill ( 2 , 500 feet ) , and invercargill , frequenting swampy ground ; taken commonly in december and january .
having obtained what i believe to be undoubtedly the male of this species , i find that there is no costal fold , and the species is therefore referable to proselena . as the male is distinctly marked , and these markings were lost in the dark suffusion of the female , i give a diagnosis and description of the former .
parva , alis ant . læte ochreis , albido - maculosis , fascia antica angusta obliqua , altera media latiore perobliqua cum tertia postica erecta sub medio confluentibus , hac lineas duas plumbeas metallicas includente , rufo - ochreis , nigro - mixtis ; post . saturate fuscis .
common in arthur ' s pass from 2 , 600 to 3 , 000 feet , flying freely over thick herbage in january .
larva 16 - legged , rather stout , cylindrical , somewhat tapering at both ends ; dull grey ; dorsal slender , dark grey ; subdorsal indistinctly darker than ground - colour ; spots small , pale , dark - centred ; head and second segment dark fuscous . feeds on discaria toumatou , forming a shelter of
very dense web , and loose silken galleries , along the branches , i found these larvæ at the beginning of february , near castle hill ; from their habit i was led to expect one of the pyralidina . they are doubtless not confined to this food - plant .
media , alis ant . albis , area basali bis secta externe perobliqua , fascia media cum macula costæ postica tripunctata per dentem fere connexa , altera etiam e margine postico in angulum analem percurrente flavido - fuscis , nigro - mixtis ; post , albis , apice griseo - suffuso .
a very distinct species , but evidently allied to h . ænea and h . siræa .
arthur ' s pass , at 4 , 700 feet , in january ; one specimen .
media , alis ant . ♂ ochreis , costa late ochreo - rufa , ♀ dilute stramineis ; post . ♂ griseis , apicem versus saturatioribus , ♀ albis .
male . —21 mm . head , palpi , and thorax brownish - ochreous mixed with grey ; thorax hairy beneath . antennæ stout , dark fuscous . abdomen grey - whitish . legs whitish - ochreous . forewings moderate , oblong , costal fold very short , costa moderately arched towards base , thence straight , apex obtusely rounded , hindmargin rounded , not oblique ; yellow - ochreous , becoming deeper towards inner margin ; a broad reddish - ochreous - brown streak along costa from base to apex , becoming deep ashy - grey towards costa ,
pointed at apex ; extreme costal edge whitish : cilia pale grey , tips whitish . hindwings grey , becoming dark grey posteriorly , costa suffusedly yellow - whitish ; cilia yellow - whitish , with an indistinct greyish line .
female . —22–23 mm . head , palpi , and thorax yellowish - white . antennæ whitish . abdomen and legs white , anterior and middle pair light ochreous . forewings as in male , but hindmargin straighter ; whitish - yellowish , interspersed with pale - greyish ; costa suffusedly white : cilia white , base whitish - yellowish . hindwings white , towards inner margin faintly suffused with very pale greyish ; cilia white .
allied to h . ænea , but smaller , and distinguished in both sexes by the absence of yellow in the hindwings ; in the male also by the conspicuous dark costal stripe ; in the female by the pale yellowish forewings .
arthur ' s pass ; four specimens ( 1 male , 3 females ) taken in a grassy place at about 4 , 500 feet , in january .
thorax smooth . antennæ in male shortly ciliated . palpi moderate , porrected , second joint roughly scaled . forewings in male with strong costal fold . hindwings broader than forewings , lower median vein with strong basal pecten . forewings with 12 veins , 7 and 8 separate , 7 to hindmargin . hindwings with 8 veins , 3 and 4 from a point , 5 approximated to 4 at base , 6 and 7 from a point . abdomen in male with genital uncus well developed .
professor fernald assures me that the genital uncus of the male ( the value of which as a divisional character he has been the first to discover in this group ) is never developed in the grapholithidæ , and that this species ( of which i sent him specimens ) should therefore be included in the tortricidæ , notwithstanding the pectination of the lower median vein , this latter structure being indeed also found in œnectra , which is certainly referable to the tortricidæ . in this view i quite concur , and therefore place the species here , which involves the formation of a new genus for its reception as above , since it differs from œnectra by the costal fold and separations of veins 7 and 8 of the forewings , and from the rest of the family by the basal pecten of the hindwings .
found to be very variable . moreover the development of the genital uncus proves that the genus must be transferred with the preceding to the tortricidæ ; it differs from œnectra by the costal fold , from ctenopseustis by the stalking of veins 7 and 8 of the forewings , from both by the triple thoracic crest . the combination of characters in this genus is very interesting .
thorax with a large erect crest on each side of back , and a small double crest behind . antennæ in male shortly ciliated . palpi moderate , straight , porrected , second joint with appressed scales . forewings in male with strong costal fold . hindwings broader than forewings , lower median vein with strong basal pecten . forewings with 12 veins , 7 and 8 stalked , 7 to near below apex . hindwings with 8 veins , 3 and 4 separate , 3 , 4 , and 5 more or less closely approximated at base , 6 and 7 stalked . abdomen in male with genital uncus well developed .
male , female . —19–26 mm . forewings in male with apex less produced , hindmargin more perpendicular ; very variable ; markings always of same form but differing much in intensity , sometimes mixed with ochreous - greenish , or partially blackish ; in both males the markings are suffused with blackish towards costa ; in one female the whole dorsal half of wing beneath a straight line from middle of base to apex suffused with blackish , costal half unusually light . hindwings in male pale grey ; in female often more or less ochreous posteriorly .
seven specimens ( 2 males , 5 females ) , taken at palmerston and taranaki , amongst forest ; in march .
minor , alis ant . ochreo - rufis , area basali , fascia media obliqua inferius dilatata , maculaque costæ postica interdum saturatioribus , sæpius obsoletis ; post . albidis , griseo - maculosis , apice rufescente ; antennarum ciliis longis .
cilia reddish - ochreous - brown , becoming whitish - ochreous at tips , on anal angle dark grey . hindwings whitish , spotted with grey except posteriorly , apex reddish ; cilia whitish , with an obscure grey basal line .
i am compelled to separate this species from c . excessana on account of the structural difference in the antennæ of the male ; otherwise i should certainly have regarded it as a mere variety . it is constantly much smaller than the average of that species , but c . excessana is occasionally quite as small ; it is also much redder , and the hindwings are more clearly whitish , but these points are quite indefinable , and would not be sufficient for demarcation ; moreover i conceive that the diminished size and the reddish colouring of both larva and imago are the direct effect of the peculiar foodplant . but the antennæ of the male are in c . excessana tolerably filiform , the joints hardly dilated , the ciliations not longer than the width of the joints ; whilst in c . alopecana they are conspicuously serrate , the joints almost triangular , and the ciliations much longer , fully twice the greatest width of the joints . these differences are quite constant , and must be regarded as sufficient .
larva 16 - legged , moderate , cylindrical , somewhat - tapering at both ends ; variable , yellowish to ochreous - fuscous ; segmental incisions and sometimes sides ochreous - carmine ; spots large , pale , in some lights whitish ; head and second segment ochreous - fuscous . feeds in spun shoots and between joined leaves of phyllocladus alpinus ( coniferæ ) , in january . pupa in the same position .
i took two specimens in the forests on the bealey river ( 2 , 100 feet ) in january , and at the same time found larvæ feeding , from which i bred three more specimens in february .
this form of the name , which is orthographically the more correct , should be substituted for conchylidæ .
the pectination of the lower median vein of the hindwings in this genus is , so far as i can ascertain , confined to the female ; the male does not possess any trace of it . i had originally supposed that this was due to denudation in the case of the two or three male specimens which i possessed , but having since acquired more material , i find it to be the normal structure . i think however that the point is not less valuable for generic separation ; in the female of paramorpha , which is the nearest allied genus , this well - developed pecten does not exist .
minor , alis ant . albis , griseo - irroratis , strigula e basi sub costa breviore , squamis paucis sparsis , interdum etiam striga disci media nigris ; post . griseo - albidis .
characterized by the short black subcostal streak . the arrangement of the surface tufts of scales appears to be the same in all the species .
minor , alis ant . dilutissime griseis , partim albo - conspersis , macula costæ basali nigra , maculis costæ sex parvis , aliisque disci plerisque obscuris fuscis ; post . griseo - albidis .
otira river ; one specimen amongst forest at 1 , 600 feet , in january .
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confused by a class within a class or an order within an order ? please see our brief essay .
to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
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allogama meyrick , 1914 ( harmologa ) , trans . new zealand inst . 46 : 105 . tl : new zealand , wellington . lectotype : bmnh . male .
crypsidora meyrick , 1909 ( dipterina ) , trans . new zealand inst . 41 : 11 . tl : new zealand , invercargill , southland . holotype : bmnh . male .
elephantina meyrick , 1885 ( proselena ) , trans . new zealand inst . 17 : 143 . tl : new zealand , arthur ' s pass , north canterbury . holotype : bmnh . male .
emphanes meyrick , 1902 ( proselena ) , trans . ent . soc . lond . 1901 : 571 . tl : new zealand , mt . peel , nelson . holotype : bmnh . female .
achrosta meyrick , 1902 ( harmologa ) , trans . ent . soc . lond . 1901 : 572 . tl : new zealand . mt . arthur , nelson . holotype : bmnh . male .
epicura meyrick , 1911 ( harmologa ) , trans . new zealand inst . 43 : 86 . tl : new zealand . castle hill , mid canterbury . holotype : bmnh . male .
eribola meyrick , 1889 ( proselena ) , trans . new zealand inst . 21 : 156 . tl : new zealand , otira r . , westland . lectotype : bmnh . male .
fraudulenta philpott , 1928 ( eurythecta ) , trans . proc . new zealand inst 58 : 363 . tl : new zealand , mt . arthur , nelson . holotype : nzac . male .
hemionana meyrick , 1883 ( proselena ) , trans . new zealand inst . 15 : 43 . tl : new zealand , l . guyon , marlborough buller . lectotype : bmnh . male .
siriana meyrick , 1881 ( tortrix ) , proc . linn . soc . n . s . w . 6 : 521 . tl : new zealand , hamilton , waikata . lectotype : bmnh . male .
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the colorado river toad ( incilius alvarius ) , also known as the sonoran desert toad , is a psychoactive toad found in northern mexico and the southwestern united states .

its toxin , as an exudate of glands within the skin , contains 5-meo-dmt and bufotenin .

colorado river toad

a large colorado river toad awaits her next meal beneath a refrigerator unit outside an arizona store .
enter
bufo alvarius
or
the sonoran desert toad
, also sometimes called
the colorado river toad
.
the colorado river toad is a nocturnal toad in the family bufonidae . common names for this species are the colorado river toad and the sonoran desert toad . the first described specimen was a female collected in fort yuma , imperial county , california , in 1855 .
re : new colorado river toads . . . . ( 20 ! ! ! )
new colorado river toads . . . . ( 20 ! ! ! ) - page 2
the colorado river toad is the largest native toad in the united states . it is also poisonous and should not be handled , especially by children .
conduct research necessary to determine the feasibility for successfully establishing the colorado river toad in unoccupied habitat . if feasible , implement a pilot introduction into unoccupied habitat , and monitor the success of methods and establishment of the colorado river toad in unoccupied habitat .
baby colorado river toads are born as tadpoles , but grow quickly into toadlets after about one month .
the historical range of the colorado river toad in california extended along the floodplain of the lower colorado river ( lcr ) and in the southern imperial valley . historically , it was documented on the lcr from fort yuma to the blythe - ehrenberg region . the range likely extended along the lcr to extreme southern nevada , near fort mohave . the lower colorado river multi - species conservation program ( lcr mscp ) planning area is on the western edge of the historical range of the colorado river toad .
the colorado river toad is not federally listed . it is listed as threatened in new mexico . natureserve ranks the colorado river toad as secure on a national and global level . additionally , it is ranked as secure in arizona , imperiled in new mexico , and possibly locally extinct in california .
clay county sheriff ' s deputies said david theiss , of kansas city , possessed a colorado river toad with the intention of using it as a hallucinogenic .
habitat loss and alteration in the lcr region likely have had an impact on colorado river toad populations . extensive use of pesticides after world war ii may have had an effect on this species . nonnative species to the lcr that have an effect on many native species , such as the american bullfrog and the spiny softshell turtle , may also affect colorado river toad populations along the lcr . illegal collection of the colorado river toad for use in the drug trade is also a threat to this species .
toad smoking ,
which is a substitute for
toad licking ,
is done by extracting venom from the sonoran desert toad of the colorado river . the toad ' s venom — which is secreted when the toad gets angry or scared — contains a hallucinogen called bufotenine that can be dried and smoked to produce a buzz .
colorado river toad adults are active foragers and feed on invertebrates , lizards , small mammals , and amphibians . colorado river toads have been known to eat beetles , wasps , ants , bees , termites , sun spiders , true bugs , butterflies and moths , spiders , mites , scorpions , grasshoppers , locusts , crickets , millipedes , and centipedes . tadpoles eat algae and aquatic insects . the colorado river toad is able to eat prey that is protected by sting mechanisms or defensive secretions .
the poisons of the colorado river toad ( b . alvarius ) and the giant toad ( b . marinus , also called the cane toad ) affect animals as large as dogs , in some instances causing temporary paralysis or even death . the chinese have long used dried toad poison to treat various ailments . contrary to…
predators include raccoons , possibly birds , other mammals , and reptiles . it has been observed that the defensive posture and skin toxins of the colorado river toad protects it from the striped skunk . it is likely that adult colorado river toads are safe from most predators due to the toxicity of their secretions and their large size .
the habitat conservation plan provides conservation measures specific to each species . listed below are the species specific conservation measures for the colorado river toad . click on the arrows to expand the table .
based on results of research conducted under conservation measures crto1 and within funding constraints of the lcr mscp , protect existing unprotected occupied colorado river toad habitat that is located through the research program .
these are highly endangered are they not ? i might be thinking of another toad species . i ' m from colorado
toad - smoking gains on toad - licking - b . alvarius in the wall street journal
deep toad - a movie filmed in arizona probes the wild world of toad - licking .
and the colorado river toad is a protected species . possession of one can get you prison time if you ' re not an animal / reptile rehab person , or otherwise licensed . . .
adult colorado river toads are carnivorous , meaning they eat other animals . they will eat most anything small enough to fit into their mouths including spiders ,
breeding habitat includes seasonal and permanent pools . preferred colorado river toad habitat is described as damp areas near permanent springs or manmade watering holes . they are also known to utilize artificial water bodies , such as canals , flood control impoundments , stock tanks , water irrigation ditches , and reservoirs . agricultural drains , dam seepages , irrigation canals , and backwaters along the lower colorado river are described as
marginal habitat
for this species . habitat for the colorado river toad when dormant or hiding places during active period includes rodent burrows , rocky outcroppings , or in hollows under watering troughs .
2 . historical versus current abundance . both king ( 1932 ) and cole ( 1962 ) reported colorado river toads as common near tucson , arizona , and west to the colorado river . stebbins ( 1985 ) indicated these toads are widespread throughout the desert . today , while colorado river toads seem to be abundant at many desert localities in arizona , they appear to have declined in new mexico ( degenhardt et al . , 1996 ) and california ( jennings and hayes , 1994a ) .
the colorado river toad , also known as the sonoran desert toad , found in arizona , is toxic to dogs when they lick or swallow it . your pet may also suffer if a toad sits in the dog ' s drinking water for a long enough period . the poison in the toad ' s skin may produce effects ranging from severe discomfort to paralysis and death .
4 . conservation . colorado river toads are listed as endangered by the new mexico department of fish and game ( degenhardt et al . , 1996 ) . jennings and hayes ( 1994a ) commented on the status of colorado river toads and noted that they appear to be extirpated from most or all sites in california and
… some investigators have suggested that colorado river toads are imperiled throughout much of [ their ] range …
in southern arizona , these toads seem to be abundant at many desert localities .
the colorado river toad is currently restricted to the sonoran desert in lowland and riparian areas of southern arizona and adjacent corners of southeastern california , southwestern new mexico , and northeastern baja california , through most of sonora , and to seven miles west of guamuchil , sinoloa mexico . this species is found at elevations ranging from above sea level to 1 mile ( 1600 m ) . the colorado river toad is common throughout its range in arizona but has declined in california and new mexico .
the colorado river toad is a mainly terrestrial toad that occurs primarily in desert habitat , including mesquite / creosote lowlands , but also inhabits arid grasslands , oak - woodland habitat , riparian areas , and pine - oak - juniper forest . this species is found at elevations ranging from above sea level to 1 mile ( 1610 m ) . the colorado river toad has been observed in pine - oak woodlands , characterized by high densities of chihuahua pine , mexican pinyon , alligator bark juniper , and various oaks , and a native grassland in chihuahuan desert scrub . this species has also been observed associated with agave , ephedra , prosopis , slasola , yucca , gutierrezia , and grasses . the colorado river toad may have also expanded its range to agricultural areas when large - scale conversion of native habitat to agriculture took place .
develop and implement a multiyear integrated research program to determine the range , status , habitat requirements , population biology , factors that currently limit colorado river toad abundance and distribution , and factors that have contributed to the decline of the species in the lcr mscp planning area .
hill , willie james . 1961 . the developmental pattern of the colorado river toad ( bufo alvarius girard ) from stage one through twenty . thesis : ( m . s . ) - - arizona state university , 1961 - - biology . - ( 35 pages )
wright ( 1966 ) reported a raccoon slitting the bellies of colorado river toads , avoiding the glandular skin and eating the entrails ; other predators may not have learned this means of feeding on these toads . musgrave and cochran ( 1930 ) report that colorado river toads will
inflate to a remarkable degree and remain in this condition for some time
when disturbed ( see photo in hanson and vial , 1956 ) .
colorado river toads , also called the sonora desert toad , have relatively smooth skin outside of the warts on their back legs . discover facts about colorado river toads with information from a published biologist in this free video on toads and amphibians . expert : dr . alan richmond bio : dr . alan richmond is the lecturer and curator of biology at the university of massachusetts . he is a well - published biologist and has a special interest in reptiles and amphibians . filmmaker : demand media
pretty soon the dept . of animal control will be working with peta in an informant style bust tactic to raid the homes where toad venom is being
manufactured
and sold . most of these homes will be right near the colorado river where the toads are indigenous . = )
the colorado river toad breeds from may through august in ponds , slow - moving streams , temporary pools , or man made structures that hold water . in arizona , it usually breeds in temporary pools formed by monsoon rains . breeding and chorusing activity usually occurred one to three nights following rainfall events . however , it has also been found that while breeding activity is stimulated by rainfall , it is not necessary for reproductive activity . the persistence of the colorado river toad over a 6 - year time period has been observed in the absence of successful breeding through many seasons .
[ via myth - busting cane toads in australia , toad - skin secretions , toad envenoming in dogs , tripping over psychoactive toads . ]
f . home range size . dan beck ( unpublished data ) radio - tracked an adult colorado river toad for a period of 390 d in the tucson mountains , pima county , arizona . during that time activity centered around the release site , although movements of > 400 m were noted in a single day .
clutch size is between 7 , 500 and 8 , 000 eggs per female . eggs are deposited in shallow water in pools . when compared to other frogs and toads , the colorado river toad develops from zygote to hatchling at a remarkably fast rate , taking less than 30 days for an egg to develop into a froglet .
only in rare instances do frogs cause any significant damage . some species ( toads , for example ) produce skin secretions that are toxic if ingested . this does not normally present a problem for people , and pets usually learn to avoid such frogs . a few species ( giant toad , colorado river toad ) produce especially copious or toxic secretions , and there have been cases in which dogs have died after biting them .
r . parasites . goldberg and bursey ( 1991a ) reported four nematodes from the gastrointestinal tract of the colorado river toad ( aplectana itzocamensis , physaloptera sp . , physocephalus sp . , and oswaldocruzia pipiens ) . they also found one species of cestode ( nematotaenia dispar ) as well as a species of nematode from the lungs ( rhabdias americanus ) .
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humans will do pretty much anything . as evidence of this truth , look at toad sucking . this is not a metaphor . toad sucking is a real activity , not an urban myth . it is exactly described . you pick up a toad , insert part of it into your mouth , and suck . but it’s not just any toad that gets sucked , and the toad sucking has a surprising payoff . there’s no clear history of when this practice took off . but one thing is for certain—toad sucking can be serious business .
n . feeding behavior . colorado river toads are active foragers . prey includes beetles , grasshoppers , wasps , centipedes , millipedes , ants , termites , solpugids , spiders , snails , scorpions , great plains toads , couch ' s spadefoot toads , small lizards , and mice ( king , 1932 ; arnold , 1943 ; gates , 1957 ; cole , 1962 ; degenhardt et al . , 1996 ) . colorado river toads will eat almost any prey they can subdue and ingest , including those with defensive stinging capabilities ( cole , 1962 ; degenhardt et al . , 1996 ) .
.
the toad involved is the sonoran desert toad , also called the colorado river toad , and carries the binomial bufo alvarius . it is not the closely related marine toad bufo marinus , as some people have insisted , prompted by the early olmec and mayan iconography . of course the licking myth is newspaper hype - - it is the venom that is active , and it is smoked . when the desert toad is stroked near the parotid glands in the neck region , there is the squirting out of this venom and when it is allowed to dry on a hard surface it takes on the texture of rubber cement . it contains up to 15 % 5 - meo - dmt , as well as n - methyl - 5 - methoxytryptamine ,
fine art illustration of a colorado river or sonoran desert toad . the print is hand - signed by the artist and is guaranteed to arrive in perfect condition . the reproduction of this original pen and ink drawing is done on high quality acid - free archival paper . call 1 800 - 913 - 7906 for more information or to order by phone . click here for shipping info .
colorado river toads are impressive amphibians , the largest toads in the sonoran desert , with an equally impressive diet of insects , including the large palo verde wood borer beetles . each summer we are regularly visited inside our home by some of these toads . one in particular visited us for five consecutive years .
~ albert most , bufo alvarius : the psychedelic toad of the sonoran desert . ( 1984 )
a 21 - year - old man has been accused of using a toad to get high .
the colorado river toad was completed on 3 . 18 . 2012 . the last toad i drew was supposed to be the last one for some time . but as i ' ve started putting together collections of animals for my cafepress store ( here ' s an example ) i needed a desert dwelling amphibian - and the sonoran desert toad fit perfectly , and was a lot of fun to draw to boot . i don ' t plan to draw any more toads in the near future , but if you have a suggestion please send me an email . the drawing is based on a photo by alice abela .
in 1983 , albert most , the founder of the church of the toad of light ( yes that was a real thing ) was a big proponent of the recreational use of the sonoran desert toad ' s poison , and even wrote a booklet titled ;
the psychedelic toad of the sonoran desert
. the booklet explained in great detail how to extract and smoke the toad ' s secretions .
he said some internet sites feature an instructional video on how to extract the toad ' s venom .
presumed hybrids with woodhouse ' s toad have been found in central arizona . ( stebbins , 2003 )
take your dog to a veterinarian if there are unusual symptoms or the dog has eaten the toad .
the last verified record from california was in 1955 , from 7 km north of winterhaven , but there have been reports of records from near the arizona side of the colorado river : near the cibola national wildlife refuge ; on the parker strip in la paz county , arizona ; above the confluence of the gila and colorado rivers in yuma county , arizona ; and along the bill williams river , mohave county , arizona . ( thomson , wright , & shaffer , 2016 ) formerly found in extreme southeast california along the lower colorado river and in irrigated lowlands of the southern imperial valley . it is not known whether toads naturally occured in the imperial valley or if they expanded their range there after the development of agricultural irrigation . ( stebbins , 1951 - thomson , wright , & shaffer , 2016 ) outside of california , the species is found in southern arizona , extreme southwest new mexico , and in sonora and northwest sinaloa , mexico , and extreme northern baja california .
h . aestivation / avoiding dessication . degenhardt et al . ( 1996 ) suggest that large size and smooth skin may predispose colorado river toads to desiccation , but there is no experimental evidence for this . indeed , larger size also means lower surface to volume ratio , thus relatively lower expectation of evaporation . there is no direct evidence for aestivation by the species , and it is not likely that they utilize any form of torpor to any greater extent than other species of bufo . dan beck ( unpublished data ) radio - tracked an adult colorado river toad that remained in the same burrow under a railroad tie from 26 september 1988–17 june 1989 . body temperature during that time ranged from 11 . 7 ˚c–29 . 7 ˚c . it is possible that during part of that period below the surface the toad may have been in a state of torpor or aestivation .
4k big sonoran desert toad , catching pet reptiles & amphibians in az , ca , nm herping hd .
experts said it ' s possible to lick the toad ' s venom glands to achieve psychedelic effects . [
4 . if your toad turns into a prince , stop licking it . you ' ve had enough .
e . adult habitat . colorado river toads occur primarily in deserts , including mesquite - creosote bush lowlands , but are also found in arid grasslands , rocky riparian zones with sycamore and cottonwoods , and oak - walnut woodlands in mountain canyons ( schmidt , 1953 ; fouquette , 1970 ; stebbins , 1985 ; holycross et al . , 1999 ) .
the wart - covered quartet of colorado river toads , or bufo alvarius , began stealing the limelight from their larger , greener cousins on jan . 3 , when the police accused bob shepard , a 41 - year - old teacher at a local nature center , of possession of bufotenine , an illegal hallucinogenic chemical found in the venom of these toads .
anonymous is correct . the venom has to be scraped off after the toad has been angered or made scared .
in 1983 , albert most , the founder of the church of the toad of light [ . . . ]
the colorado river toad ( bufo = incilius alvarius ) is a large mainly terrestrial toad ranging in length from 4 . 3 to 7 . 4 inches ( 110 to 187 mm ) . it has leathery skin that ranges in color from olive brown to black with a few , low rounded bumps and enlarged glands on the back of the limbs . females contain reddish - colored warts in straight lines on the back . tadpoles of this species have a brassy coloration , rounded tail , flattened body , and can reach a size of 2 . 2 inches ( 57 mm ) total length .
the toad lives primarily in the sonoran desert of the united states and northern mexico . it is protected in california and new mexico but not threatened in the state of arizona . it is the largest native toad in north american measuring between 6 - 8 inches in length and the second largest among all toads only to the non - native cain toad .
the colorado river toad is a rewarding species to work with . individuals are very aware and seem almost to recognize their keepers . they are eating machines and individuals should be monitored closely as they tend to become very fat , very quickly . reducing the amount of food per feeding will help . be sure to know your local laws regarding this species . you may be able to avoid some serious persecution by the law with just a simple phone call . do the right thing and be responsible .
it is illegal to have the poison from the toad , called bufotenin , in your possession in the state of california .
since that time there have been numerous deaths reported of people trying to get high from licking toads . most often from the non - native cain toad who ' s poison is significantly more toxic to humans than the sonoran desert toad ' s .
i . breeding migrations . during dry , pre - monsoon periods , colorado river toads seek shelter , often in rodent burrows . with the onset of summer monsoon rains , adults move overland to breeding sites . the extent of these overland migrations has not been investigated . breeding usually occurs on one night , 2 or 3 d following a major rainfall event ( sullivan and malmos , 1994 ) .
as for breeding and selling colorado river toads , good luck ! breeding them in captivity involves injecting ground up pituitary glands from other anura into mature female bufo abdomens to hormonally stimulate ovulation . i ' m still waiting to hear from the university library about my copy of the thesis this info comes from , but even the abstract makes it seem like a hell of a lot of work . . .
the first problem with toad licking is that it isn ' t just any toad that will get you high . the most famous culprit — one that has sent a lot of dogs on bad trips — is the cane toad . it and its general family , the family bufonidae , will secrete the stuff that can be sniffed , injected , or ingested to get people hallucinating .
also see the
textfiles
on toad toxins by david g . spoerke , m . s . , rph . , 1986
clay county prosecutor daniel white said possessing the toad is not illegal , but using it to get high off its venom is .
frog and toad - in the desert by ron harton is a fun and well written piece about amphibian life in the desert .
i have to admit , i am rather jealous ! i have tried to get out feelers on the possibility of getting a colorado river toad into canada and so far , i have been told rather blunty to give up . however , they said that about my pyxies , too , and now i have three of them ! i really love the last picture , of the two toads . . . the one on the left is such a cutie . . . i would pick that one for sure ! ! sigh . . . .
white said that for years people experimented with
toad licking ,
and now toad smoking is considered a substitute . to do so , a person heats up the frog ' s venom to break down its toxins and preserve the hallucinogen , which is dried .
it has been several years since we last saw this , our favorite toad , but others of his species visit us each summer .
of course the ( toad ) licking myth is newspaper hype – it is the venom that is active , and it is smoked .
the sonoran desert toad received national attention when a story was published by the new york times in 1994 about a teacher in california who became the first person to be arrested for possession of the toad ' s venom . bufotenin had been outlawed in california in 1970 .
outside of california , this toad inhabits a variety of habitats including grasslands , arid desert lowlands , mountain canyons with oaks and sycamores , and pinyon - oak - juniper mountain forests . found near washes , river bottoms , springs , reservoirs , canals , irrigation ditches , stock ponds , streams , temporary pools , and sometimes away from water sources .
then in 2007 , a man in kansas city , missouri was found with the sonoran desert toad in his possession , and was charged with possession of a controlled substance after they determined that he had intended to use the toad and its secretions for recreational purposes . . .
the conservation status of the species is
least concern
. however , in california the toad is classified as
endangered
and in
police found the toad when they went to a northern kansas city home to investigate a suspected meth lab . they later arrested david s . theiss , 21 , and charged him with three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possessing drug paraphernalia — the toad .
it is the largest toad in north america found most commonly in the sonoran desert of southern california , arizona , new mexico , and mexico .
in 1984 , the first widely distributed description of smoking bufo alvarius toad - venom for its 5 - meo - dmt content came in the form of an extraordinary pamphlet titled “ bufo alvarius : the psychedelic toad of the sonoran desert by albert most ( venom press , denton , texas ) .
whether or not this small south - western underground culture of bufo alvarius toad - venom smoking had anything to do with the birth of the urban myth of cane toad licking the much more common bufo marinus toad is impossible to say , since there seems to be no basis to that the myth , and the few unfortunate youths who have been foolish enough to lick cane toads have done so because they have read reports of it in the media . this confusion between the common bufo marinus and the much rarer though very physically similar bufo alvarius toad may however have a fascinating historical precedent .
because you cant trip off weed . . . people lick colorado river toads to ingest the 5 - meo - dmt out of it ' s excretory sacks . as some of us know , dmt , or dimethyltryptamine is an extremely powerful hallucinogen . people dont get high from licking these toads like people get high from weed . they trip out . kinda like acid , but different . research your shit before you call people stupid and make yourself look like an ass .
mr . elam , who has taken an interest in caring for the toads , had developed some empathy for his wards .
one day you ' re sitting by the river ; the next you ' re a prisoner , being squeezed by a bunch of humans ,
he said .
and does your opinion even count ? no . you ' re just a toad .
as toads go , colorado river toads are relatively easy to care for , much in the same way as you would care for smaller species of bufo only on a larger scale . whereas a twenty gallon long tank my suffice for several fowler ' s toads bufo w . fowleri , bufo alvarius grows considerably larger much quicker and are notably more active , thus requiring a greater amount of space . a 50 to 75 gallon glass terrarium should be fine for two pairs of adults .
my own misadventures in toading are recorded within the pages of my book tryptamine palace which has an entire chapter dedicated to the sonoran desert toad . however what was probably my finest experience of smoking toad venom does not come from that chapter , and was supposed to be the very end of the book .
law enforcement authorities have discovered that people are willing to go to great lengths to get high , including a troubling new method that features a frightened toad .
urltoken urltoken in bc you could go herping and find some western toads ( bufo boreas boreas ) . this toad is a close relative of the california toad ( , bufo boreas halophilus ) the kind i have . mine are great pets and don ' t get humongous , so are easy to house and feed .
and finally , no section on psychedelic experiences would be complete without raiding the erwoid vaults . the following account of smoking bufo alvarius toad venom comes from 2003 .
i wish my cane toad was still alive . i didn ' t know they could tangle themselves upside down in submerged plant roots and drown themselves . : (
it ' s diet consists of just about anything it can fit in its mouth . including just about all insects , spiders , some small rodents , and other kinds of toads and frogs . it is primarily nocturnal , meaning it spends most of it ' s day underground only coming out at night . it can usually be found in other small animal holes , taking shelter from the heat till the night time comes . it is a semi - aquatic toad , meaning that it needs some source of water consistently or it will dry out . they can usually be found in river basins or near reservoirs and ponds . during the winter months it burrows deep underground to stay warm , coming out once the monsoon rains start to flood the river basins in june . the toad is most active from june through august coming out to mate and feed .
the following status listings are copied from the april 2018 special animals list and the 2017 endangered and threatened animals list , both of which are published by the california department of fish and wildlife . if no status is listed here , the animal is not included on either cdfw list . this most likely indicates that there are no serious conservation concerns for the animal . to find out more about an animal ' s status , you can go to the natureserve and iucn websites to check their rankings . check here to see the most current complete lists . special animals list notes : 1 ) formerly bufo alvarius . between 2006 & 2009 the scientific name has been changed to cranopsis alvaria , to ollotis alvaria , to incilius alvarius , back to ollotis alvarius and then back to incilius alvarius . the common name has changed from colorado river toad to sonoran desert toad .
the venom of this toad is classed as a schedule 1 controlled substance under us law and it is illegal to possess the venom . possession of the toad in and of itself is not a crime in the usa , but of the three states where the toad is found in the wild , only arizona allows the species to be collected and then only with an arizona fishing license . however it is against arizona state law to remove the species from the state , fishing license or no fishing license .
every time i see a toad , i say that phrase . . .
i ' m not not licking toads
. . . classic ! oh homer : )
johnson , t . r . talking toad and frog poster and cassette . ( includes 20 frogs found in missouri . ) missouri dep . conserv . , jefferson city .
every once in a while you read of someone who , upon hearing about toad - sucking gives it a go and winds up vomiting tremendously and winding up in a hospital . the concoction produced in bufo toad glands not only contains a hallucinogen , but a mix of other agents designed to make predators sick . dogs oddly enough seem to fare reasonably well , though they can get terrifically spaced out . for people , the best advice is to let toad - sucking remain the stuff of legend , and forget about trying it yourself .
the toad from yuma county , arizona , shown above on the top left , was found one night in august on a road between two plowed agricultural fields next to this agricultural drain northeast of yuma arizona , about 20 miles east of california . the sonoran desert toad utilized similar developed habitat in california along with undisturbed desert habitat before its disappearance in the state ( see the imperial county photos to the left . ) this begs the question , why does this toad still persist in similar agricultural habitat nearby in arizona and not in california ?
i want to make clear that the toad emitting venom in the last photo was under minimal stress - it only hunched up like that during the actual emission ( i believe to protect its own eyes from the venom ) and showed no signs of discomfort before or after the actual emission . this is a long - term captive and tame toad that had little or no fear of humans . finally , the venom was not collected ; this was a demonstration carried out by a zoo official to illustrate the defensive mechanism of this toad species .
in october , a kansas city man was charged with possessing a controlled substance after clay county authorities determined he possessed a toad with the intent to use its venom to get high .
as a defense , sonoran desert toads use their large parotoid glands and other warty glands to excrete poisons that may cause paralysis and even death if ingested by dogs and other small animals . toads assume a butting pose , aiming the parotoid glands at an adversary . they also inflate to increase their body size . skin secretions have hallucinogenic properties . ( this is the toad involved in reports of toad licking or the smoking of dried parotoid gland secretions . some states have passed laws against toad licking or smoking , and classify the secretions of these toads as a controlled substance . )
adults are 4 - 7 1 / 2 inches from snout to vent ( 10 . 1 - 19 cm ) . ( stebbins , 2003 ) the largest toad in california before its presumed extirpation .
even dogs get into the act of sucking and licking toads . npr reported a cocker spaniel named lady , which became addicted to licking toads . lady had to go into doggie rehab . online chat rooms are filled with pet owner comments regarding their toad - licking dogs . in areas of texas where bufo alvarius is abundant , reports of toad - licking dogs acting whacked – out are common .
dark olive green color and leathery skin . they are 110 - 187mm in length . a very large toad with cranial crests , elongate parotid glands , raised warts on hind legs ( robinson 2001 ) .
is carniverous and is known to eat snails , beetles , spiders , grasshoppers , lizards , mice , and other smaller toad species . a long sticky tongue aids in catching prey ( mayhew 1968 ) .
this toad is common in the sonoran desert . it occurs in a variety of habitats including creosote bush desertscrub , grasslands up into oak - pine woodlands , and thornscrub and tropical deciduous forest in mexico .
they are an attractive species to the pet keeper due to their size and surprisingly calm and bold demeanor ( for a toad ) in captivity . they seem to tame much more readily than cane toads (
hi ive been lurking for a while . it bugs me when people get wild caught sonoran desert toads . while they may be found in ca , and nm . most of the wc colorado toad come from arizona . in az with a valid fishing license you can take a bag limit of certain wild amphibians . the law also states that az native wildlife , cannot be sold , bought , or traded . they can only be given away . it ' s also against the law to take az native wildlife outside of the state . now im not saying you guys did anything wrong . i live in az so it bugs me when i see kingsnake ads with sonorans for sale . knowing they are illegaly been taken away from my state . other than that . your pics of your toads are great . sonoran are one of my favorite toads . i currently have a great plaines toad i caught in my backyard . it ' s mansoon season now . breeding season ! theres about 4 different toad species near me . i ' m outside of the range for sonorans though . i ' m hoping i can find another red spotted toad this year .
a large toad with relatively smooth skin , prominent cranial crests , and long parotoid glands behind the eyes . there is a large white wart near the corner of the mouth and large warts on the hind legs .
molecular neurobiology student manuscripts from the university of california at berkeley : toad venom . . . their toxicity & psychoactive effects - student paper in neurochemistry . the history and psychoactivity of bufo toads - student paper in neurochemistry .
is nocturnal and more aquatic than most toad species . it is a solitary species , until the mating season in the summer months when large groups of toads gather at temporary pools to mate . if the toad is molested or bothered , it can secrete a poison which irritates the mucous membranes of most predators . this poison can affect animals as large as dogs , and can cause temporary paralysis or death ( mayhew 1968 , robinson 2001 ) .
laws pertaining to frogs vary from state to state . some rare species ( for example , houston toad , wyoming toad , pine barrens treefrog ) may be fully protected under federal or state laws . seasons and bag limits may apply to other species ( bullfrogs , for example ) . permits to remove frogs that are causing damage are available in some states . contact your state wildlife department to determine the legal status of frogs in your area .
did you know ? that , if the toad is molested or bothered , it can secrete a poison ( toxin is called bufotenine ) , which irritates the mucous membranes of most predators . this poison can affect animals as large as dogs , and can cause temporary paralysis or death . in humans it can cause powerful hallucinations when ingested and in large amounts may even be able to kill a person ( “the psychedelic toad of the sonoran desert” ) .
in their survey of 1994 , jennings and hayes noted that this toad is apparently extirpated from most or all of its sites in california . this is likely due to loss of habitat and to pesticide use brought about by modern agricultural methods . according to a california department of fish and game report , no toads have been collected or observed in california since 1955 . this toad has also declined in new mexico , but is abundant in many parts of arizona .
who ' s posterior is the sheriff ' s dept . licking , in regards to the prosecution of this case ? do you know there is a state park in arkansas named toad suck . makes ya think . . . .
) and a full grown adult makes an impressive display animal that usually isn ' t hiding all the time like most ground dwellings true toads . they are unfussy eaters and an adult sonoran desert toad is quite capable of eating an adult mouse , though these should not consititute a significant part of the toad ' s diet due to the reports of complications in amphibians fed regularly with mice and rats . crickets and cockroaches , both captive cultured , are the best staples . our
no we did not smoke or lick any of these toads . our toad catching was purely innocent at the time and it wasn ' t until afterwards when i researched the toads did we find out they have quite the history to them .
there are large elongate paratoid glands which lie beside and come into contact with the obvious cranial crests . this toad species has a white bump that marks the corner of each side of its mouth . its belly color is soft white . it is not so much a vocal species of toad , its call is rather subdued and sounds much like a short hoot , lasting about a second . in captivity , this species shuffles around frequently and these sounds of activity are often mistaken for snuffling vocalizations .
investigators describe mr . shepard as friendly , intelligent and interested in helping others understand the powers of toad venom . he has even made an informational videotape for those who are prosecuting him , mr . elam said , and has helped guide their research .
toad licking has long been recognized as a stupid , risky way to try to get high . but do you know the biochemistry that determines how stupid and risky it actually , and how high you could get . let ' s squeeze some toads .
if i were you i ' d get a rococco ( spelling ? ) or a marine toad instead - easier to come by , no drug implications , and marines can become very tame ( eating dog food out of a bowl for you ) .
i wonder what the availability is on them in canada ? from what i have read of marine toads , they are poisonous and are a potential threat to native species , which means canada may not let them across the border . maybe i should start looking for a native toad species . i have yet to come across anything remotely amphibian in my own city yet i know they are out there . . . . . a nice canadian toad would suit me just fine ! thanks for the suggestions john .
here is a very random description of smoking toad from one of the true psychedelic pioneers , the spiritual advisor baba ram dass ( be here now ) who was formerly chiefly known as timothy leary’s associate richard alpert , phd . ( the psychedelic experience . )
no doubt thanks to enthusiastic descriptions such as this one albert most’s pamphlet was popular underground reading ( non - pun intended ! ) through out the sonoran desert region . most and his friends even formed an informal “church of the toad of light” that was never officially incorporated , and a small but enthusiastic population of bufo alvarius toad - venom smokers has undoubtedly existed since this time . dried bufo alvarius venom was occasionally sold on the underground market as ‘organic dmt’ venom , and has been reported from los angeles to germany !
raccoons have learned to pull a toad out of the water by its leg and flip it over on its back and start feeding on it ' s stomach , a strategy that keeps the raccoon far away from the toad ' s poison glands . the poison has been shown to be toxic to humans ( only very mildly so ) when consumed orally , but there are almost no poisonous effects when smoked . after inhalation users usually experience a warm sensation , euphoria , and strong auditory hallucinations . no long term effects have been reported .
users “milk” the glands of the toad onto a mirror . when it is dry , the user can either take it orally or smoke it . users who use this drug will have symptoms consistent with a hallucinogenic drug , and many report being high anywhere between one and eight hours .
while smoking toad venom might sound extreme , an even more disturbing method to get high possibly includes sniffing fermented human waste . vicky ward , manager of prevention services at tri - county mental health services in kansas city , said she has read e - mail warnings about a drug called jenkem .
while mr . shepard has also been charged with possession of a handful of other hallucinogenic substances , including mescal cactus , psychedelic mushrooms and lsd , it is the toad venom , which mr . shepard told investigators he had dried and smoked , that has drawn attention in an otherwise routine drug bust .
just as a bonus , toads secrete substances that weaken muscles and cause extreme nausea , too . so the overall effect of toad licking can cause a person to have vivid hallucinations , a racing heart , and muscles too weak to carry their constantly - vomiting body to the bathroom , let alone the hospital .
all that aside , once one has a toad in their possession i don ' t believe they require special permits , unless that crazy bill went through a while ago… a quick search of the cites website didn ' t turn up any references for bufo alvarius . couple other bufo species , but not alvarius .
additionally , the researchers only used twenty - one toads in their study and the level of compounds varied dramatically from one toad to the next . their results from the twenty values give an average of 9 . 8 % of 5 - meo - dmt per gram of dried skin . while the actual level of 5 - meo - dmt contained in the venom may be somewhat higher than this study concluded , the variability in the amount of this compound present in any toad ' s venom may render this conclusion irrelevant in practicality . one may never be completely sure how much of the active compounds are actually present in any given dose . ( see
i cannot tell by what logic we call a toad , a bear , or an elephant ugly ; they being created in those outward shapes and figures which best express the actions of their inward frames ; and having passed that general visitation of god , who saw that all that he had made was good . sir thomas browne , 1642 .
as mentioned above , it is illegal to posses the toad in any state except arizona . in arizona it is legal to posses up to to 10 toads with a valid arizona fishing license . however , if it can be proven that the possession of the toads is for recreational drug use , it would constitute a criminal violation there as well .
like most toads , sonoran desert toads eat anything that it can overtake and capture , mainly a variety of invertebrates , but lizards , mice , and toads have also been observed in its stomach contents . sometimes this toad can be seen sitting at night under a street light , eating passing flying insects . tadpoles are presumed to eat algae and detritus .
after two weeks at 55° f the toads were removed from the cold room and kept three hours at room temperature . they were then injected with 2ml . of beef pituitary extract , dissolved in absolute ethanol . the suspension was drawn into a 5 ml . luer - type syringe , and was injected with an 18 gauge needle . the injections were made with the toad placed with the dorsal region facing the palm of the hand , and the cloacal region pointing towards the finger tips . holding the toad in the above manner with the left hand , the injection was made in the lower left quadrant , about one - fourth inch into the abdominal region . care was taken to avoid injury to vital organs , especially blood vessels .
the main defense of this toad is a poison that it secretes from glands in the skin . although this poison won ' t typically kill an adult human , it can make you very sick if you handle the frog and get the poison in your mouth . dogs can get sick or die if they pick up the frog with their mouths and play with it .