Frog and Toad
- Unlike the Chinese who saw frogs as the symbol of immortality, healing and good luck, the ancient Zoroastrians considered them
the agents of the Evil Spirit, Ahriman.
In a Pahlavi Zoroastrian text named the Bundahishn, it is written that frogs are sorcerers and they are related to dragons.
Today we know that frogs are useful animals that benefit our environment by eating pests and helping agriculture around the world.
- Frogs and toads are useful in the medicine too. Their skin has substances which are used today to cure
many human diseases such as AIDS. In addition, amphibians sustain the balance of nature and help preserve the environment.
Today Iran is home to many different species of amphibians especially in the north and west.
One is Kaiser’s Spotted Newt (top) which is only found in Iran. Newt is a kind of salamander which mostly lives in water, and it is poisonous and has true teeth.
- Kaiser’s newt or Luristan Newt (above) has white and orange markings.
Luristan Newt is poisonous like other newts, and it is widely used in pet trade which has resulted in its near extinction.
Bufo luristanicus (on the left) is a kind of toad which is widespread in Iran. These toads live in marshes and rural gardens and they are close to extinction as well. An interesting fact about these toads is that the male toad can sometimes become female to carry eggs.
Iran is also home to many different species of tree frog. Although Iranian tree frogs (on the left) do not climb trees, they do cling to grasses and hedges.
They are the smallest frogs in Iran but they have the loudest sounds! These frogs only live in the northern parts of Iran where the weather is moist and wet.
They are the smallest frogs in Iran but they have the loudest sounds! These frogs only live in the northern parts of Iran where the weather is moist and wet.
- While tree frogs live in the northern Iran, the skittering frog (on the left, below) lives in water holes of Kerman and Sistan and is widespread throughout Asia.
The Gathas teach us that everything is the creation of Ahura Mazda and all the creation is Good.
Since frogs are the creation of Ahura Mazda, we have to do our best to preserve them.
Go to this link to learn more about frogs and find out how you can help them.