One of the largest and most impressive toads in Africa, found mainly in the rainforests of West and Central Africa, from Guinea and Sierra Leone across to Cameroon and Gabon. True to its name, this toad is much bigger than your average backyard hopper. Its size alone makes it stand out, but its appearance is just as remarkable: it has a chunky, powerful body covered in warty skin, with prominent ridges above its eyes that give it a fierce, almost “eyebrowed” look.

What makes the African giant toad truly fascinating is its incredible mimicry. In some areas, it has evolved markings and body shapes that make it look very similar to a Gaboon viper, one of Africa’s most dangerous snakes. This resemblance is no coincidence—it’s a survival strategy. By looking like a venomous viper, the toad tricks predators into keeping their distance, even though it is completely harmless to larger animals. This kind of visual mimicry is rare among amphibians, making the African giant toad a standout example of evolutionary creativity.

Despite its tough look, the African giant toad lives much like its smaller cousins. It is mostly nocturnal, spending the day hidden under logs, leaf litter, or burrows, and coming out at night to hunt. Its diet includes insects, beetles, spiders, and other small invertebrates, though its large size means it can tackle bigger prey than most other toads. Like other true toads, it has large parotoid glands behind its eyes that secrete toxins to discourage predators, adding another layer of defense to its mimicry trick. During the rainy season, males gather near streams or ponds, calling to attract females with deep, guttural notes that echo through the forest night.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Cameroon

2016

Central Af. Rep.

2016

Presence Uncertain

Congo-Brazzaville

2016

Côte D’ivoire

2016

Equatorial Guinea

2016

Gabon

2016

Ghana

2016

Guinea

2016

Liberia

2016

Nigeria

2016

Sierra Leone

2016