eastern American toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARACTERISTICS: This is a large, warty toad with a few warts

in each dorsal color spot, conspicuous cranial crests, and a short spine

atop most of the femoral wart. The length is 2-3 1/2 inches to 4 1/4

inches. The color is highly variable, from brick-red through browns

and olive grays to light gray. The belly can be spotted or not. There

are only 1 or 2 large warts on each of largest dark spots. The adults

congregate in breeding pools starting in March or April. The eggs are

laid in long spiral gelatinous strings and each egg is 1/25 to 1/16 inch

in diameter. The eggs, 4000 to 8000 in number, are laid in two strings,

and hatch in 3 to 12 days.

 

DISTRIBUTION: This species breeds in shallow pools and is most-

ly nocturnal, and hides during the day under debris.

 

Foods: Tadpoles are omnivorous, adults are carnivorous. Prey items
recorded for the American toad are: beetles, beetle larvae, ants, wasps,
crickets, leafhoppers, moths, caterpillars, flies, plant bugs, stoneflies,
isopods, spiders, harvestmen, and millipides.

 

 

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