Look at these monsters.

Norway, Sweden, Finland, Baltic Republics

Look at these monsters.

Postby Tom Hoogesteger » Wed May 22, 2013 12:55 pm

Found yesterday in Helsinki, Finland.
In a breeding pond of Bufo bufo there were a number of dead toads floating around, among them these two giants. One was 12,5 cm and the other 12,0 cm, that was the size of my pet Bufo marinus :shock: .
I could expect to find toads of this size somewhere around the mediterranean, but not in Finland. I have never (at least in Finland) seen toads even close to this size, and I have seen a lot. Usually the biggest Finnish female toads are less than 9 cm.

giant_toads.jpg
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Re: Look at these monsters.

Postby Tom Hoogesteger » Wed May 22, 2013 1:06 pm

Please, especially Northern Europeans, share your experiences about the biggest common toads you have encountered!
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Re: Look at these monsters.

Postby Martti Niskanen » Wed May 22, 2013 3:13 pm

I've bumped into some big ones, but never measured them. I can see them being very large as even you're impressed :D
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Re: Look at these monsters.

Postby Paul Lambourne » Wed May 22, 2013 6:17 pm

Goodness me IKEA think of everything, a toad measurer.. it is probably call Bjork or snarg or something.. :D

Cant say I have ever seen western European toads anywhere close to that size, only spinosus..

Is it possible that the bodies swelled due to decomp and water absorption, I have encountered bodies pulled from the water after only a few days and they are very bloated and out of proportion, they smell rather unpleasant too, its enough to put you off of your tea..nearly.

Does any body have any pictures of bufo bufo grediscola ?

Regards

Paul
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Re: Look at these monsters.

Postby Tom Hoogesteger » Thu May 23, 2013 9:55 am

Paul,
it's called "Paddmätare", it's a new hit product of IKEA. Especially designed for measuring toads, but I've found it useful for other herps as well. I always carry one with me in the field. ;)
The toads were indeed swollen due to water absorption and accumulation of gas, but that wouldn't increase their body lenght, would it?
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Re: Look at these monsters.

Postby Martti Niskanen » Thu May 23, 2013 7:51 pm

Tom Hoogesteger wrote:The toads were indeed swollen due to water absorption and accumulation of gas, but that wouldn't increase their body lenght, would it?


Surely not. Maybe slightly by the extension of the tissues, but not significantly. Nose tip - cloaca should stay pretty standard.
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Re: Look at these monsters.

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Fri May 24, 2013 10:25 am

Paul Lambourne wrote:Does any body have any pictures of bufo bufo grediscola ?

https://picasaweb.google.com/1146646894 ... 8798116594
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