Korean water toad

Taxobox
name = Asiatic Toad
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Bufonidae
genus = "Bufo" (?)
species = "B. stejnegeri"
binomial = "Bufo stejnegeri"
binomial_authority = Schmidt, 1931The Korean water toad, "Bufo stejnegeri", also sometimes known as the Korean toad or water toad, is a species of toad found in East Asia. Two distinct populations are known to exist, one in eastern Liaoning province of northeastern China, and one in the central mountains of the Korean Peninsula. Within South Korea, it is found in eastern Gyeonggi (specifically Gapyeong) and also in Gangwon (particularly the Odaesan mountain complex). In addition, it is expected that there are or have been additional populations in the region between central Korea and Liaoning.

The Korean water toad is found inland, at elevations from 200 to 700 meters above sea level. As its name suggests, it favors water, and is typically found in wooded riparian areas. Breeding and egg-laying take place in the waters of streams and rivers. The water toad is typically nocturnal, but is also active during the day during the summer rains.

Because of their superficial similarity to frogs, Korean water toads are sometimes eaten. However, like other toads, they are poisonous. A case of severe poisoning from a digoxin-like immunoreactive substance was reported in 1998. [cite web|url=http://www.koreamed.org/SearchBasic.php?DT=1&RID=30937|title=A Case of Digoxin-like Immunoreactive Substance(DLIS) Poisoning After Ingestion of Fried Water Toad (Bufo Stejnegeri Schmidt)|work=KoreaMed|accessdate=2007-06-07]

The classification of the Korean water toad into the genus "Bufo" was challenged in a 2006 paper. However, no alternative classification was proposed and the species is thus technically "unassigned to genus."

Notes

References

*cite web|url=http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?g_id=4541|title=Bufo stejnegeri|work=Amphibian Species of the World 5.0|accessdate=2007-06-07
*IUCN2006|id=54766|assessors= Matsui, M. & Wenge, Z.|year=2004|downloaded=2007-06-07|title=Bufo stejnegeri