#beaked toad

Have you ever seen such a beautiful face? This specimen is a Rhinella major, a species formerly synonymous with Rhinella granulosa. Toads of the genus Rhinella are often referred to as beaked toads due to their prominent upper lips and snouts, which somewhat resemble a beak. Rhinella major can be found in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil, and are likely to exist in Peru, though documentation on their presence is needed. Images by Eric Vanderduys.

A Rhinella major sits calmly on the forest floor for photographer Paul Szekely. As of 2009 this species is now considered separate from Rhinella granulosa, a closely related species who’s range greatly overlaps with Rhinella major. All toads of the genus Rhinella are known as beaked toads, and were formerly included in the genus Bufo, though they were later separated.

Behold the yellow butt cheeks of Rhinella ornata [synonymous with Chaunus ornatus], a member of the beaked toad genus Rhinella. These toads can be found in Brazil and possibly Argentina, and often inhabit lowland forests near water sources. The yellow markings are possibly used to warn or confuse predators. Images by Diogo B. Provete.

Rhinella scitula is a small toad of the genus Rhinella, which contains species referred to as beaked toads. They can be found in southwestern Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and in southeastern Paraguay. Their dark coloration and dorsal stripe serves to camouflage them against the forest floor of their preferred habitats, causing them to resemble a fallen leaf. Image taken in Bonito, Brazil, by photographer Diogo B. Provete.

There’s a party in the swamp, and all Rhinella mirandaribeiroi are invited! Native to Brazil, these members of the beaked toad genus Rhinella were once synonymous with the species Rhinella granulosa, but have been considered their own distinct species since 2009. Images by Joern Koehler.

A paunchy little beaked toad [Rhinella abei] found near a road in Santa Catarina, Brazil. This species is native to lowland forest habitats, but can also be found in gardens and other urban areas. Footage by Diego da Cruz.

A high-definition examination of a beaked toad [Rhinella abei] found in Brazil. 

This little guy belongs to an interesting and visually odd subgenus of Bufo containing 71 species of true toads native to Neotropical Central and South America. It is the only known species to practise reproductive necrophilia. Males have smooth skin, whilst females have a more granular texture.