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The Bufo Alvarius toad

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Bufo Alvarius toads

The Colorado River Toad, also called the Sonoran Desert Toad is scientifically named Bufo Alvarius and is noted for the hallucinogenic or psychedelic properties of its venom. A large olive brown to black toad with distinctive, large, oval to sausage-shaped glands located on some of the upper surfaces of all limbs. It is the largest toad that lives in the Sonoran Desert. One to four white warts occur just behind the angle of the mouth. The iris is dark brown or black

The known range of Bufo Alvarius extends from southeastern California into lowland Arizona and extreme southwestern New Mexico in the United States and southward into the states of Sonora and northern Sinaloa, Mexico. Colorado River toads are documented to occur up the Colorado River from Fort Yuma to the Blythe-Ehrenberg region, and historically, likely extended up the Colorado River bottomlands to extreme southern Nevada near Fort Mojave. In California, Bufo alvarius was historically present along the channel of the lower Colorado River and in the southern Imperial Valley. This toad ranges in elevation from near sea level to 1615 meters. It is often captured by individuals desiring the psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects of its venom.

Colorado River toads generally appear just before summer showers, and congregate and breed in temporary pools after the rains begin. Seven to eight thousand eggs are laid in long strings and are claimed to be distinctive in lacking an outer jelly envelope and any partitions between individual eggs. Adults may be long-lived; individuals are known to have survived over 9 years in captivity. Bufo alvarius has a rather mixed diet that includes insects. The skin toxins and parotoid poison of Bufus alvarius protect it from some predators, but others such as raccoons can avoid the toxins to prey on these toads.

Recently, law enforcement officers confiscated several shipments of Bufo alvarius that were in route to California. One Arizona raid resulted in the confiscation of 62 Colorado River toads because of the psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects of its venom. These toads were intended to be used in the drug culture trade where individuals try to become intoxicated from licking the skin of toads , or by smoking dried venom extracted (milked) from the parotoid glands. The problem is extensive enough that some states have passed laws against toad licking. The venom of toads including Bufo alvarius is currently classified as controlled substance.

Comments

3 Responses to “The Bufo Alvarius toad”

  1. peter on April 6th, 2007 12:53 pm

    hi
    i was thinking about hitting the yuma area around may to search them but supposedly they are nearly extinct there. do you suggest a good spot to find them. of course i intend to treat them with the utmost respect and molest them only one time each and absolutely not take them with me. i was thinking along the verde river but that is pretty far and may be out of the sonoran desert range. i would appreciate any help. thjx

  2. Feigen Baum on July 25th, 2007 1:01 pm

    Does anyone know where I can purchase the toads, with a “bred in captivity” certificate? I want to avoid any issues with my toads. Also, does anyone know of any artists who paint or draw with Bufo Alvarius themes?

    Thanks.

  3. Psychedelic Toads - The Pets That Pack a Powerful Punch | Pets on June 22nd, 2008 1:54 pm

    [...] specifics about how and where to get a Bufo Alvarius toad, visit the Bufo Alvarius Report website at [...]

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