frog/toad hybrid

[George Hogg]

Have common Frog and Common Toad ever hybridised in the wild in U.K.?

Is such a union possible?

[toadpole]

funny thing my wildlife friend asked me that last week ...i said i had never heard of such a thing and did not think it possible ....but we did discuss weather it would be called a Tog...a Trog or a Froad ...marion

[George Hogg]

Trying to upload a pic to here,Have put several in the library..george

[George Hogg]

My thoughts on seeing the 'warts' on the flanks of the frog suggested it might be a hybrid?
Maybe all frogs have warts and I just haven't noticed them before(but I doubt it as my garden has been full of frogs for years.)

[Dogghound]

I doubt it happens, its very common to see frogs and toads in amplexus as males will grab anything, you often get males grabbing males. Taxonomically they are not that similar, more chance of common frog agile frog hybrids or similar. Because these are in amplexus it does not mean that they will produce young. Frogs do have bumps, lump, warts etc on their skin. Females develop granules in breeding season along their flanks. (although the one in the photo is evidently a male).

[George Hogg]

Hi Dogghound,When you say frogs often have bumps,warts and lumps on their skin,is the one pictured typical,or more warty than expected ?
Are frog's warts usually on their flanks as shown?
It seems to me this one is extremely warty,which is why I wondered about it's breeding.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by George Hogg

Hi Dogghound,When you say frogs often have bumps,warts and lumps on their skin,is the one pictured typical,or more warty than expected ?
Are frog's warts usually on their flanks as shown?
It seems to me this one is extremely warty,which is why I wondered about it's breeding.

Just like their colour comon frogs can vary in skin texture. The one in the photo looks normal to me. Females (which this is not) often develop "warts" on their flanks during the breeding season too.

[Putorius]

The common toad, being of the genus Bufo (typical toads) and the common frog being of the genus Rana (typical frogs) make the prospect of a hybrid being produced minimal as it is unlikely for a union between two species belonging to entirely different genera to be successful.

I have seen many such couplings however.

Contrastingly, whilst taking part in the chytridiomicosis swabbing survey of 2008, I swabbed a small garden pond in Usk that supported impressive numbers of both Palmate newts and Common or Smooth newts. Both these species are members of the same genus, Lissotriton.

The Chytridiomicosis survey of 2008 involved two visits per site requiring samples from 30 individual animals upon each visit. Among the 30 animals that swab samples were taken from on the first visit to the Usk site was one individual which clearly displayed features of both species. At first glance the spotted body and facial stripes gave the impression that the animal was a male L. vulgaris. Closer inspection revealed that the digits of the rear feet had extra long flanges surrounding them which gave the impression of the webbing that appears during the breeding season on male L.helveticus. ALong with the facial striping typical of L.vulgaris there was also speckling as normally associated with L.helveticus. A tail filament was also plainly present as is the norm with L.helveticus, and the crest, although the height of the average male L.vulgaris in breeding condition, was not undulating as is normally the case with vulgaris but straight edged as is normally the case with helveticus.

The animal was photographed (very poorly) and discussed on the RAUK forum. Although there can be no proof without the intrusion of DNA testing etc, the general consensus of opinion after discussion was that the most likely explanation was that the individual was a hybrid. Consequently, further research revealed that such hybrids between the two species are known to science, and that in some instances, are fertile.