Toad

Toad
Species information
Eye colour	Various
Skin colour	Various
Related to	Frogs Newts Salamanders Basilisks
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Very similar to frogs, Bumpy, warty skin
Affiliation	Wizardkind
Status	Extant

A toad is a type of frog characterised by leathery, bumpy skin and short legs. They were popularly known among Muggles as well as wizards and witches. Toads were one of the three animals students at Hogwarts were allowed to have at the school as pets along with owls and cats. The toad had been by far the least popular choice of pet, and according to Rubeus Hagrid, they went out of style years before 1991.

History

In 1269, after a Quidditch match she had interfered in, Modesty Rabnott was afraid that Chief Barberus Bragge would punish her by transfiguring her into a horned toad.

Many centuries ago, in blood-thirstier times when young witches and wizards were expected to personally pop out the newt eyes they were using in potions, they routinely brought boxes of toads to school for use in potions and in other charms. Over time, as the British Ministry of Magic introduced legislation regarding animal cruelty (sub-sections 13-29 inclusive relate to potion ingredients and their production) such practises were gradually outlawed.

Simon Talmadge told the house-elf Cosa that he died because of having been eaten by a toad that thought he was a fly after he drank the Shrinking Solution incorrectly.

At some point before 1991, toads became an unpopular pet choice with students at Hogwarts.

Robyn Thistlethwaite's roommate chose to have a toad at Hogwarts and named him Fry.

Public opinion on toads

"You don't want to get a toad, they're out of fashion."

— Rubeus Hagrid with Harry Potter in Diagon Alley, 31 July 1991

By the time Harry Potter started attending Hogwarts in 1991, the possession of a pet toad conveyed neither cool nor status; indeed, it was something of an embarrassment. The toad, never much appreciated for its own personal appeal, gradually appeared (alive) less and less frequently at Hogwarts, unless hopping and swimming wild in the grounds. Neville's pet toad, Trevor, had nothing to commend him except a propensity for getting lost, and when he slipped off to join his brethren toads living in the Black Lake, both owner and pet had a sense of relief.

Magical abilities and skills

Although they did not have magical abilities, they were useful to perform spells on or test potions on, such as when Professor Filius Flitwick made Neville Longbottom's toad, Trevor, fly around his classroom to demonstrate the Levitation Charm in 1991. Trevor was also subject to a Shrinking Solution Neville made in Potions in 1993, and was successfully turned into a tadpole. Toads were particularly useful to potioneers, as the fact that they absorbed liquids through their skin allowed for easy testing of potions that were normally required to be ingested orally.

Known uses of toads

• Toads were allowed to be kept as pets by students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but were unpopular in comparison to cats or owls.

Purple toads for sale in the Magical Menagerie

• Magical Menagerie had a pair of Giant Purple Toads that ate dead blowflies.
• Toads were sometimes used in Charmss to demonstrate levitation, and in Potions classes to test the effectiveness of students' potions.

Neville Longbottom's toad Trevor in 1991

• Neville Longbottom had a toad named Trevor for at least part of his time at Hogwarts, beginning in his first year at the school.
• Dolores Umbridge was described as resembling a toad in appearance and mannerisms, leading students to call her an "old toad" and similar derogatory names.

A chicken egg hatched beneath a toad

• A chicken egg was hatched underneath a toad in order to produce a Basilisk.
• Several toads were owned by Warty Harris, and stolen by Will, who subsequently had them stolen and resold to him by Mundungus Fletcher.

The Frog Choir performing in 1993

• On 1 September 1993, Professor Flitwick conducted a choir of students holding toads as both sang "Something Wicked This Way Comes" at the Start-of-Term Feast.
• There existed a spell that could turn humans into toads.
• Toad to Toadstool was a transforming spell that would turn toads into toadstools.

Known species of toad

• Briar Toad
• Common Toad
• Crested Toad
• Dragon toad (magical)
• Giant Purple Toad (magical)
• Harlequin Toad
• Horned toad
• Natterjack Toad
• Three toed tree toad (magical)
• Western Green Toad
• Wide-mouth toad

Behind the scenes

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the toad used for Trevor, Neville Longbottom's toad, is a smooth sided toad.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, during the transfiguration class, the toads used were cane toads.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the species of toad used for Trevor is also a smooth sided toad.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Disc 2)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells (Mentioned only)
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned in a newspaper)
• The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac

See also

• Trevor
• Ronald Weasley's frog
• Frog
• Newt
• Salamander
• Frog Choir
• Basilisk egg