Toads are a type of frog that belong to the order Anura and are characterized by their dry, bumpy skin and poison glands behind their eyes. While they may resemble frogs in some ways, toads are uniquely adapted for living more terrestrial lifestyles There are over 500 species of true toads worldwide, with around 20 species native to North America
In this article we’ll take a look at some of the most common types of toads found across the United States and Canada discussing their key identifying features, habitats, behavior, diet, and more. Read on to learn about these fascinating amphibians!
American Toad
The American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is one of the most widespread and recognizable toad species in North America. They can be identified by their stocky body shape and coloring that ranges from brown, grey, olive green, or red. American toads have a white or pale underbelly and dark spots on their back. They are a medium-sized toad, growing to around 2-4 inches.
American toads are adaptable and occupy a variety of habitats, including meadows, gardens, forests, floodplains, and human-disturbed areas. They can be found across most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains. American toads are largely nocturnal and feed on insects, snails, slugs, worms, and other small invertebrates.
During breeding season, male American toads can be heard emitting their distinctive sustained trill call to attract females. Females lay long strings of eggs in water, and tadpoles emerge within a week. American toads may live for over 30 years in captivity but average around 4-5 years in the wild.
Fowler’s Toad
Closely related to the American toad is Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri), named after zoologist Samuel Fowler. Fowler’s toads can be distinguished from other toads by the three crests running down their back. Their coloration consists of spots and blotches of brown, green, or reddish-brown.
Fowler’s toads inhabit moist woodlands, floodplains, and fields east of the Rockies. They have a varied diet including insects, worms, snails, spiders, and algae. Males make a weak, raspy call during breeding season to attract mates. Females lay long strings of eggs in shallow water, and the tadpoles hatch within 5-12 days.
Western Toad
As its name suggests, the Western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) occupies a large range west of the Rocky Mountains, from the Pacific Coast up into Alaska. They can be identified by their stocky frame, horizontal pupils, and coloration that varies from brown, grey, olive green, or reddish.
Western toads thrive in a variety of habitats including meadows, woodlands, floodplains, and human-modified areas like gardens and parks. They will eat any insect or invertebrate they can get their tongues on, including beetles, flies, ants, caterpillars, spiders, and earthworms.
During breeding season, Western toads gather at ponds and lakes where males make their musical trill call to attract mates. Females lay long strands of eggs that hatch into tadpoles within a week. Western toads can live over 10 years in the wild.
Great Plains Toad
The Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus) is native to the Great Plains region of central North America. They are a large, heavy-bodied toad species that may reach 4-6 inches in length. Their coloration consists of spots and blotches in shades of gray, brown, and olive green.
As their name suggests, Great Plains toads primarily inhabit grasslands, prairies, agricultural areas, and other open spaces with sandy or loose soil. They will burrow into the ground or hide under rocks and logs. Their diet includes insects, worms, spiders, and other small prey.
Great Plains toads breed in temporary rain pools, flooded fields, and slow streams. Males produce a high trill mating call. Females lay up to 7,000 eggs in worm-like strings. Egg strings hatch in 3-5 days, and tadpoles transform in 6-8 weeks.
Woodhouse’s Toad
Woodhouse’s toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii) is a common species with a wide range across central North America. They are a medium-sized toad reaching 2-4 inches in length. Coloration consists of dark blotches on a gray, brown, olive, or reddish background. A light stripe runs down their back.
As their name suggests, Woodhouse’s toads prefer woodland habitats but they readily adapt to disturbed areas like suburban yards and gardens. They eat a variety of insects and small invertebrates. During breeding season, males gather at ponds and streams to vocalize and find mates.
Females lay long strings of eggs that hatch into tadpoles within a week. Woodhouse’s toads may live up to 15 years in captivity but average around 4 years in the wild.
Colorado River Toad
The Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius), also known as the Sonoran Desert toad, is the largest toad in North America, reaching 7 inches or more. They have warty skin ranging in color from green to gray, brown, or reddish-brown, with dark brown spots on their back.
Colorado River toads live in arid habitats like deserts and prairies in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. They are primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to hunt insects, lizards, small mammals, and other prey. During the day, they burrow underground or hide under rocks to stay cool and moist.
Breeding takes place near temporary rain pools and flooded areas. Their loud calls can be heard up to a mile away. Females lay up to 30,000 eggs in long strings. Eggs hatch within a week and tadpoles transform in 6-8 weeks. Colorado River toads can live 10 years or more in the wild.
Gulf Coast Toad
The Gulf Coast toad (Incilius valliceps), also known as the Coastal Plains toad, inhabits the southeastern United States from Texas to North Carolina. Adults reach 2-4 inches in length and have warty skin in shades of brown, gray, olive, or reddish-brown. Dark spots speckle their back.
As their name implies, Gulf Coast toads occupy coastal plains habitats including prairies, marshes, flooded fields, and beaches. They have also adapted well to disturbed areas like suburbs, parks, and gardens. Gulf Coast toads eat a variety of insects along with snails, spiders, and worms.
Breeding takes place in shallow fresh or brackish water bodies after heavy rains. Their calls sound like a bleating sheep. Females lay up to 20,000 eggs in a film. Tadpoles hatch in 2-3 days, transforming in 4-6 weeks. Gulf Coast toads live 5 or more years in the wild.
Yosemite Toad
The Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus) is a rare amphibian that only inhabits the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Adults grow to 1.5-3 inches long and have bumpy skin in hues of black, gray, or olive green. Their underside is spotted with white or yellow.
Yosemite toads live in high elevation meadows, lakes, and streams near the tree line. Due to their remote habitat, little is known about their diet and behavior. Breeding happens in shallow water bodies like meadow ponds and lake margins.
Males make a distinctive ringing call described as sounding like a bell. Females lay a few hundred eggs in small clusters. After hatching, tadpoles develop for 40-50 days before transforming. Yosemite toads are considered a threatened species, with loss of wetland habitat the main threat.
Red-Spotted Toad
The red-spotted toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) lives in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. They get their name from the small red warts speckling their brown, olive, or green colored bumpy skin. Adults reach 1.5-3 inches in length.
Red-spotted toads inhabit arid areas like deserts, prairies, and scrublands. They spend the hot daytime hours burrowed underground and emerge at night to feed on insects, worms, and other small prey. After heavy monsoons, they congregate at temporary rain pools to breed.
Males call to attract females with a weak, duck-like vocalization. Females lay hundreds of eggs in small clusters. The eggs hatch within a few days, and tadpoles transform in 3-6 weeks. Red-spotted toads employ camouflage and poison glands to avoid predators. They may live up to 5 years in the wild.
Canadian Toad
The Canadian toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys) lives across most of Canada and into the northern United States. Adults reach 2-3.5 inches long and have dry, warty skin ranging in color from brown, olive, gray, to reddish-brown with dark brown blotches.
Canadian toads inhabit moist coniferous and mixed forests, muskegs, meadows, floodplains, and other wetlands. They burrow into soil or hide under logs and rocks. Canadian toads eat slugs, snails, worms, insects, spiders and other forest floor creatures.
Breeding happens in May-July in shallow ponds, lakes, and slow streams. Males vocalize with a sustained trill. Females lay 4,000-10,000 eggs in a film. Eggs hatch in 4-14 days, and tadpoles transform in 60-90 days. Canadian toads can live up to 5 years in the wild.
In closing, North America is home to a diverse range of native toad species, each with their own unique adaptations to thrive across the continent’s varied environments and ecosystems. Toads play an important role as predators of insects, invertebrates, and other small prey. Learning to identify them by sight and sound helps shed light on their secretive lives. If you have the chance to spot any of these remarkable amphibians, consider yourself lucky!
Eastern Spadefoot Toad
The eastern spadefoot toad is similar in appearance to the true toads. However, its skin is smooth and covered with minute tubercles, unlike true toads, which have rough, warty skin. It is the only spadefoot east of the Mississippi River. The adult size of the spadefoot is 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 inches, averaging a little less than the American and Fowlers toads.
Populations are found in southcentral Pennsylvania in the Susquehanna River Valley from the Maryland border to the northcentral part of the state. The range becomes more narrow as it moves northward. The spadefoot also occurs along the extreme eastern edge of the state, beginning in the southeast corner where it follows the Delaware River Valley north to Monroe County. Its range extends into parts of New England and as far south as central Florida. Its western boundary is Missouri.
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Frogs and toads are the most numerous of all the amphibians, with some 3,500 species worldwide. Pennsylvania is home to 18 native species of frogs and toads.
Frogs and toads are usually easy to identify as a group, although there may be some difficulty in distinguishing between the species or even in separating frogs from toads. In Pennsylvania, neither has tails when fully grown and they are the only amphibians without tails.
Frog & Toad Vocabulary ll 100 Frog & Toads Name In English With Pictures ll Type of Frogs & Toads
FAQ
What are the 7 classification of toad?
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibian |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Bufonidae |
What is the most common toad?
The American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is a common garden species that eats harmful insects and can be seen in backyards in the Northeast. Predators of toads include snakes, raccoons, and birds of prey. Like frogs, most toads eat insects and other arthropods.
How do you tell what type of toad you have?
Dark spots with one or two large warts dot the toad’s back. The number of warts in each spot helps distinguish the American toad from the Fowler’s toad, which looks similar but has three or more small warts in each spot. The belly is pale, but the male’s throat appears darker, especially during breeding season.
What is a female toad called?
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No Specific Name:Unlike some other animals, there isn’t a distinct, common term for a female toad, such as “cow” for female cows or “hen” for female chickens.
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Focus on General Terms:In most scientific and everyday contexts, a female toad is simply referred to as a “female toad” or “toad”.