Asiatic toad

Taxobox
name = Asiatic Toad

---

image_width = 250px
status = LC
status_system = iucn2.3
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Bufonidae
genus = "Bufo"
species = "B. gargarizans"
binomial = "Bufo gargarizans"
binomial_authority = Cantor, 1842

The Asiatic toad, or "Bufo gargarizans", is a species of toad found in East Asia. It is common in China and portions of the Russian Far East, but relatively rare on the Korean Peninsula. Asiatic toads are also found on the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, although they have been extirpated from some islands in recent years, possibly including Okinawa. The Ryukyuan subspecies, "Bufo gargarizans miyakonis", is also known as the Miyako toad.

The Asiatic toad avoids dense forests, but is found in most other habitats, including grasslands, open forests, and cultivated areas. It prefers humid areas, and is seldom found at altitudes of more than 800 meters.

The Asiatic toad plays an important role in traditional Oriental medicine. An extract of the toxins secreted by the toad, known as toad venom or "Chan-su", has long been touted for its medicinal properties. In addition, dried toad skins have been prescribed as remedies for dropsy and other ailments. More recently, Western medical science has also taken an interest in the toad. In 1998, an antimicrobial peptide was extracted from the toad, and patented. [cite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=1998007440|title=A novel antimicrobial peptide isolated from Bufo bufo gargarizans|accessdate=2007-06-03]

The species was previously classed as "Bufo bufo gargarizans", a subspecies of "Bufo bufo", the common toad.

Notes

References

*IUCN2006
assessors= Kuzmin, S., Yuezhao, W., Matsui, M., Kaneko, Y. & Maslova, I.
year=2004
id=54647
title=Bufo gargarizans
downloaded=2007-06-03

ee also

*List of amphibians of Korea