Korean water toad
Encyclopedia
The 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-do (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.
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."
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
found in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
. Two distinct populations are known to exist, one in eastern Liaoning
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
province of northeastern China, and one in the central mountains of the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. Within South Korea, it is found in eastern Gyeonggi (specifically Gapyeong) and also in Gangwon-do (particularly the Odaesan
Odaesan
Odaesan is a mountain in Gangwon, South Korea, standing at the junction of the districts of Gangneung, Pyeongchang, and Hongcheon. A major national landmark, it is the centerpiece of Odaesan National Park...
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
East Asian monsoon
The East Asian monsoon is a monsoonal flow that carries moist air from the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean to East Asia. It affects approximately one-third of the global population, influencing the climate of Japan , the Koreas, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and much of mainland China...
.
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.
The classification of the Korean water toad into the genus Bufo
Bufo
Bufo is a large genus of about 150 species of true toads in the amphibian family Bufonidae. Bufo is a Latin word for toad.- Description :...
was challenged in a 2006 paper. However, no alternative classification was proposed and the species is thus technically "unassigned to genus."