Bufos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Amphibious creatures known for their stout bodies and dry warty skin, typically inhabiting terrestrial and aquatic environments; a genus name for certain types of toads; sometimes used to describe toad-like amphibians in general
2. Refers to a group of toad species characterized by their bumpy textured skin and stout physique, belonging to a specific taxonomic genus; commonly recognized as land-dwelling amphibians with occasional aquatic habits
3. Denotes a classification of amphibians comprising toads with rough, dry skin and robust forms, representing a genus distinctive for these traits; broadly applied to similar warty amphibians found in diverse habitats

Etymology: "Bufos" is simply the plural of "bufo," a term that reaches English straight from Latin. The Latin "būfō" meant "toad," and the word became the scientific name for a genus of toads, with the cane toad, "Bufo marinus," as its best-known member. That species is now classed under the genus "Rhinella," so the older genus name survives mainly in older texts and in the everyday use of the plural. The plural "bufos" therefore points to a group of toads or toad-like amphibians, carrying the Latin word for the animal into modern biological naming. Its meaning has stayed remarkably close to the original, which is unusual for a term that passed through scientific classification.

Synonyms: toads