Toad (Ashland)

Thanks to their poisonous nature the humble toad is steeped in myth and folklore, with a strong link to the occult, witchcraft, and the devil, particularly in Europe. Toads are a common ingredient in witch’s potions and folk medicine, and a popular choice as a familiar (animal servant). Indeed, in Shakespeare’s MacBeth one of the three witches has a toad familiar named Paddock and a toad is also used in one of the witch’s potions…

Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison’d entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter’d venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot.

Also a part of toad lore is toadstone, also known as bufonite, which where magical stones said to be found within the head of the toad. They were said to be an antidote to poison when worn or applied to the skin. Toadstones are also mentioned by Shakespeare, in As You Like It. In reality, toadstones didn’t come from toads at all, they were the fossilized teeth of Scheenstia, a Jurassic fish.

Even today people still believe that handling a toad will give you warts, which is not true, and toads are still utilized as a drug. The bufotenine produced by the Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius) has been consumed (licking, dried and snorted, smoked etc.) for centuries for the psychedelic effect it produces.

Today we’re looking at a true Halloween decoration, and not an animal collectible of the sort you’re used to seeing on here. As such, I’m not sure how much appeal it will have to our readership, but I think you’ll agree that it’s an appropriate choice for the season.

This is the 10” “green frog” by Ashland. Despite being advertised as a green frog it is indeed a toad, as evidenced by the warty skin and the prominent parotoid glad behind each eye. In the amphibians that have them the parotoid glad is where the animal’s various toxins are produced and stored. When these glands are squeezed or the toad stressed, they produce a milky chemical cocktail known as bufotoxin.

Technically there’s nothing wrong with advertising this product as a frog because toads ARE frogs. True toads belong to the family Bufonidae but there are other frog species commonly called toads simply due to a terrestrial habitat and/or presence of bumpy skin. Although this toad appears to belongs to the Bufonidae family there is no way to identify it as anything more specific than that.

This toad measures about 10” when measured in a straight line but closer to 12” when measured along the back from snout-to-rump. It stands 7” tall to the top of its bulging eyes. This is significantly larger than any actual toad species although the cane aka marine toad (Rhinella marina) is the largest with females reaching a maximum of 9.4” (24 cm).

The body is made out of PVC and latex and although squishy it is not hollow and is firm enough to support its shape. I think it has some kind of fiber filling. It is sufficiently toad-like in overall appearance with a pleasing bumpy texture that makes it fun to handle. Details include grooves sculpted on the throat, nostrils, and a tympanum behind each eye. An obvious seam separates the head from the rest of the body.

The paintjob consists of various blended green tones although I’ve also seen an all-black version available. The horizontal pupils are black and on my copy the paint application isn’t great, but it was the only green version of this decoration available when I bought it. The paint does seem to chip off easily and mine is missing some on its back. Obviously, this is not really meant to be a toy, but my daughter plays with it on occasion anyway.

I got my Ashland frog at a Michael’s craft store, but it might be available elsewhere too. It’s also on Michael’s website. It retails for $21.99 but every time I’ve encountered it over the last few years it has been on sale, usually 50% off or more. Currently it is on their web site for $8.79 and that’s a fantastic price for it. If you’re as into Halloween decorations as you are toy animal collecting, like large latex amphibians, or odd home décor (mine stay out year-round) then this toad is highly recommended.