Animal-Derived Sources and Sourcing Concerns

Almost every psychoactive substance discussed in this library comes from a plant or fungus. One comes from an animal. This page explains the toad that is sometimes called Bufo alvarius, why conservationists and scientists raise concerns, and what is still unclear. It does not describe how any secretion is collected or used.

Names and distinctions

The animal's current scientific name is Incilius alvarius. It was formerly classified as Bufo alvarius. It is also called the Sonoran Desert toad or Colorado River toad.[1][2] Two things need to be kept apart:

• The toad's secretion. It contains several substances, including cardiac glycosides, bufotenine and the psychedelic tryptamine 5-MeO-DMT.[1]
• 5-MeO-DMT as a compound. It is a distinct substance. Another Chacruna article notes it is also present in snuffs used by Amazonian peoples, such as the yãkoana of the Yanomami.[3] A pure form can be made in laboratories, so the compound does not require the animal.[1]

A 2025 study in PLoS One calls the toad the only animal known to secrete 5-MeO-DMT as a chemical defense, and says the source of 5-MeO-DMT in the animal is still unknown.[4] Other toad species have toxic secretions, but the Chacruna Institute author says no other known toad has 5-MeO-DMT.[1] See 5-MeO-DMT and DMT vs 5-MeO-DMT.

How old is "toad medicine"?

This matters for cultural respect. The Chacruna author writes that current "toad medicine circles" are thought to be a relatively recent phenomenon, tracing to a 1984 booklet, and that there is "no conclusive evidence" from archaeological, literary or ethnographic sources for Indigenous use of these toads for psychoactive properties.[1] The article adds that 5-MeO-DMT is now used in a variety of settings, from some Indigenous communities in Mexico to toad medicine circles and recreational use.[1] We therefore avoid describing toad use as an ancient tradition of a named people. Where a community says otherwise, its own voice should be given priority. See Traditional and Ceremonial Contexts.

Conservation concerns

Sources disagree about how serious the situation is.

• The IUCN lists the species as "least concern", but the Chacruna author notes that the latest assessment dates from 2004 and probably does not reflect today's situation. She reports that in the United States the species is presumed extirpated in California, endangered in New Mexico and considered vulnerable in Arizona.[1]
• A 2023 National Geographic article quotes the president of the Tucson Herpetological Society, Robert Villa, who says the toad is not currently in danger of extinction but is threatened by climate change, human expansion and pollution. The same piece reports that poachers seek the toads for 5-MeO-DMT and that most reported poaching is in Mexico.[5]
• The Chacruna author describes secretions being collected in large quantities to supply retreats. She says repeated collection is stressful to the animals and may be harmful, citing research on stress in amphibians.[1]
• Other threats named include road mortality, the amphibian chytrid fungus (found in Arizona populations) and development.[1]

Proper evidence not found for a measured population decline caused by collection for 5-MeO-DMT. We found claims by researchers and conservationists, but no survey.

Safety for people and pets

Toad secretions contain toxins besides 5-MeO-DMT, including cardiac glycosides.[1] A veterinary review of 208 dogs in Arizona, treated for suspected exposure to this toad, found neurologic signs in 87.5%, respiratory signs in 76.9% and cardiac signs in 74.5%. 99% of dogs survived, and the authors describe the condition as potentially fatal.[2] If a person is exposed to a toad's secretion, call US Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 in an emergency. If a pet is exposed, contact a veterinarian right away. See Plant and Mushroom Poisoning, Pet and Animal Poisoning and Poison Help by Country.

Legal note

Laws on the animal, on collecting wildlife, and on 5-MeO-DMT differ by country and by U.S. state. We did not read official wildlife or drug sources for this page, so we do not state the law. See Psychedelic Legal Status by Country. This is not legal advice.