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Description
Suriname Crested Toad
Scientific Name: Bufo typhonius
Common Name: Suriname Crested Toad
Species Overview
Size: Adults typically reach 2.5 to 4 inches (6.5 to 10 cm), with females generally larger and broader than males.
Appearance: The Suriname Crested Toad is a distinctive species with a rugged, crested appearance formed by raised cranial ridges and prominent warty tubercles along the back. Colouration ranges from tan and brown to grey or olive, often with darker mottling or irregular blotches. A pale dorsal stripe may be present in some individuals. The parotoid glands are large and oval, extending down the neck. The underside is pale and lightly speckled. The head is broad with pronounced ridges that contribute to its “crested” look, giving the species a more angular profile than many South American toads.
Distribution: Found across northern South America, including Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, and northern Brazil. Its range spans rainforest edges, savanna zones, and transitional habitats.
Habitat: Wild individuals inhabit rainforests, forest edges, savannas, and areas near temporary or permanent freshwater sources. They are adaptable and can be found in leaf litter, under logs, or in shallow burrows. Seasonal rains trigger breeding activity. In captivity, they thrive in terrestrial enclosures with moderate to high humidity and deep substrate.
Behaviour: Primarily nocturnal, Suriname Crested Toads hide during the day and emerge after dark to forage. They are steady walkers and hoppers, relying on camouflage and defensive secretions when threatened. They are solitary outside of breeding season and may show subtle territorial behaviour in confined spaces.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A single adult can be housed in an 18 × 18 × 18 inches (45 × 45 × 45 cm) enclosure. Provide deep, slightly moist soil or coconut fibre substrate mixed with leaf litter to support burrowing and humidity retention. Add cork flats, logs, rocks, and plants to create shaded hiding spots. A shallow water dish should always be available for soaking. For multiple individuals, upgrading to 24 × 18 × 18 inches (60 × 45 × 45 cm) is recommended.
Temperature and Humidity:
Ambient temperature: 74 to 80°F (23 to 27°C)
Warm area: 82 to 86°F (28 to 30°C)
Night temperature: 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C)
Humidity: 60 to 80%, with regular misting. Provide strong ventilation to prevent excessive moisture buildup.
Lighting: Provide low-level UVB (2 to 5%) with diffused lighting. Maintain a natural day and night cycle. Avoid intense lighting, as these toads prefer dim environments.
Diet: Offer a varied insect diet including crickets, roaches, worms, black soldier fly larvae, and other suitable invertebrates. Supplement prey with calcium and multivitamins. Juveniles require frequent feeding, while adults should be fed moderately to maintain healthy weight.
Behaviour in Captivity: Hardy and adaptable, Suriname Crested Toads settle well in naturalistic enclosures. They burrow readily and become active nocturnal feeders. Handling should be minimal due to their delicate skin and defensive secretions.
Genetics Note
There are no recognised morphs for the Suriname Crested Toad. Natural variation occurs in dorsal tone, crest prominence, and mottling intensity, but these reflect individual and locality-based differences rather than defined genetic morphs.