Road mortality alters the body size and age structure of amphibians

Road mortality affects a wide range of animal species, including amphibians. Worldwide, many amphibian species, including the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans , are impacted by road mortality, but the ecological consequences remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate how road mortality influences population traits by comparing body sizes and age structures between two similar habitats, one with frequent road mortality and the other without it. A total of 274 B. gargarizans individuals (191 males and 83 females) were collected, and their ages were estimated using skeletochronology. The results showed that the population from the high‐road mortality site had significantly smaller body sizes and a younger mean age compared to the population from the site without road mortality. These findings suggest that road mortality imposes strong ecological pressure that leads to noticeable shifts in population characteristics. It also emphasizes the seriousness of road mortality and the need for mitigation measures, such as reduced vehicle speeds or the provision of bypass roads, to support the long‐term conservation of amphibians.