Eastern American Toad

Overview:

Scientific Name: Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus

Size: 2 – 4.4” (adult length)

Status: Generally common. Has experienced recent declines in parts of its Great Lakes range.

 

Habitat:

Habitat generalists found from open woodlands and forest edges to prairies, meadows, marshes, suburban areas, and agricultural lands.  

Conservation:

An adaptable species that can persist across different landscapes. Local declines can result from the loss or degradation of breeding sites. The use of certain pesticides can pose a threat though at what levels and sensitivity is still uncertain. Vandalistic destruction during the breeding season is another significant local threat when calling and amplexed toads are vulnerable to wanton killing, often by children not sensitized to wildlife values.  

Best Management:

Consider the effects of altering or destroying vernal pools and other fish-free ponds. Do not impact the pool depression or core buffer area within 100 feet of the pools and aim to protect a wider buffer of 600 – 1000 feet around the pools. 

Adult Coloration:

Highly variable coloration ranging from brown, tan, reddish-brown, grey to olive. Often dark, rounded spots on the back. A light line may run down the middle of the back. The throat and belly are whiteish or yellowish with black or grey spotting that concentrates on the chest.  

Adult Characteristics:

Typical toad with short, stocky body, warts on the skin, and short hind legs. They walk or hop as opposed to making long leaps like frogs. Spots on the back may contain one or two warts. Large oval or kidney shaped parotoid glands located behind the eyes. Larger warts are present on the lower part of the hind legs. Males are generally smaller and have dark, enlarged thumbs on front feet and a greyish flap of skin on the throat which constitutes the vocal pouch.  

Larvae Characteristics:

Tadpoles are very small and black or dark brown with round bodies and narrow, rounded tails. They will school in moderately large groups in waters they were laid in.  

Species Confused With:

The only other toad is the Fowler’s Toad which has three or more warts per spot on the back and no enlarged warts on the hind legs. Fowler’s Toads have unmarked bellies though some individuals may have sparse dark spots on the chest. This species can hybridize with the Eastern American Toad with offspring showing a blending of traits from one of the parental species. Their call is a prolonged musical trill that can last over 30 seconds.