Editing Toad (section)

== Biology ==
Usually the largest of the bumps on a toad's skin are those that cover the parotoid glands. The bumps are commonly called warts, but they have nothing to do with pathologic [[wart]]s, being fixed in size, present on healthy specimens, and not caused by infection.<ref name="EncycloBrit" /> It is a myth that handling toads causes warts.<ref name="EncycloBrit" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Butts |first1=Wilbur K. |title=Error and Superstition in Biology |journal=BIOS |date=1933 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=52–60 |jstor=4603978 }}</ref>

Toads travel from non-breeding to breeding areas of ponds and lakes. Bogert (1947) suggests that the toads' call is the most important cue in the homing to ponds.
Toads, like many amphibians, exhibit breeding site fidelity ([[philopatry]]). Individual [[American toad]]s return to their natal ponds to breed, making it likely they will encounter siblings when seeking potential mates. Although inbred examples within a species are possible, siblings rarely mate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/americantoad.htm|title=American Toad|work=psu.edu}}</ref> Toads recognize and avoid mating with close kin. Advertisement vocalizations given by males appear to serve as cues by which females recognize kin.<ref>Waldman B, Rice JE, Honeycutt RL. Kin recognition and incest avoidance in toads. Am. Zool. 1992. 32:18-30.</ref> Kin recognition thus allows avoidance of inbreeding and consequent [[inbreeding depression]].