Mongolian toad
The Mongolian toad ("Strauchbufo raddei)", also known commonly as the piebald toad or the Siberian sand toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. The species is endemic to northeastern Asia. It was formerly placed in the genus "Bufo", then for a few years in "Pseudepidalea" until finally moved to its own genus Strauchbufo. Etymology. The specific name, "raddei", is in honor of German naturalist Gustav Radde. Geographic range. "S. raddei" ranges through much of northern China, Mongolia, and the Russian Far East, and is also found in North Korea. It is particularly common in the  Amur River basin of China and Russia. Description. The Mongolian toad is relatively small, with adults not exceeding a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . Habitat. "S. raddei" ranges through a wide range of habitats and is often found in dry regions, preferring sandy soil. It was first described based on specimens from the Alashan desert. The species does not occur above , nor below . The northernmost population is found on Olkhon Island in Russia's Lake Baikal. Reproduction. The mating season of "S. raddei" occurs between March and July, depending on the local climate. Eggs are typically laid in shallow  puddles, leading to the death of many tadpoles as the puddles dry up. The Mongolian toad hibernates in the ground, usually in groups, in holes up to deep. Diet. When adult, the Mongolian toad favours ants as food, particularly in arid regions. It also eats spiders and beetles. Taxonomy. The Mongolian toad was classified as "Bufo raddei" prior to the 2006 definition of the genus "Pseudepidalea". In 2010, it was shown that "Pseudepidalea" is a junior synonym of "Bufotes". The divergent Mongolian toad was moved to its own genus "Strauchbufo" in 2012.