Sapos

Sapos is the plural form of sapo, the word used in Spanish and Portuguese for toad. In biology, sapos refers to members of the family Bufonidae, a widespread group commonly called true toads. While the term is language-specific, it covers a diverse array of amphibians that share several characteristic features.

Typical sapos have dry, warty skin, stout bodies, and relatively short legs. They often possess parotoid glands behind the eyes that can secrete toxins as a defense. Size varies widely among species, from small tropical forms to larger coastal or continental kinds. Adults are usually more terrestrial than many frogs, but most sapos return to water to reproduce.

Sapos occur across a broad range of habitats on many continents, including forests, grasslands, deserts with seasonal rains, and wetlands. They favor moist microhabitats and are commonly found near ponds, streams, or temporary pools where breeding can take place. They are generally daylight-shy and most species are nocturnal or crepuscular.

Reproduction begins in water: females lay eggs in strings or clumps that hatch into aquatic tadpoles. Tadpoles undergo metamorphosis over weeks to months, depending on species and environmental conditions, eventually becoming independent juvenile sapos. Their diet is primarily invertebrates—various insects, worms, and spiders—with some larger species capable of taking small vertebrates when opportunities arise.

Conservation status among sapos varies by region and species. Many face threats from habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and disease such as chytridiomycosis, as well as invasive predators. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, pollution reduction, and monitoring of disease.