Japanese Common Toad (English name: Bufo japonicus japonicus)

Japanese: ニホンヒキガエル（英語表記）Bufo japonicus japonicus

A large toad (illustration) of the Bufonidae family. Commonly known as toad. Distributed in Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, with populations from the Kinki region and northward distinguished as the subspecies B. j . formosus . It is 8-15 cm long, with a large, broad head and a stocky body. Its limbs are well developed, but its hind legs are short and its webbed feet are poorly developed. The dorsal surface of its body is uniformly covered with large and small warty protuberances, and behind its eyes are developed ear glands that secrete toxic substances. Therefore, when it encounters danger, it adopts a unique self-defense pose, stretching out its limbs, lowering its head, and protruding its ear glands.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヒキガエル科の大型ガエル（イラスト）。通称ガマ(蝦蟇)。北海道，本州，四国，九州に分布し，近畿地方以北の個体群は，亜種のアズマヒキガエルB.j.formosusに区別される。体長8～15cm，頭部は大きくて幅広く，胴はずんぐりしている。四肢は発達するが後肢が短く水かきの発達も悪い。体背面は一様に大小のいぼ状の隆起に覆われ，眼の後方には有毒物質を分泌する耳腺が発達する。そのため危険に出会うと，四肢を突っ張り頭を下にして耳腺を突き出す特有の自衛ポーズをとる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Japanese Art

>>: The Holy Orthodox Church in Japan