Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
(Formerly: Bufo americanus)
Family: Bufonidae
Description and Size
- Dry, warty skin
- Short fore and hind limbs compared to the other frogs of the state
- Flattened face
- Short, wide, and kidney shaped gland behind each eye (paratoid glands) that does not touch a ridge of skin (cranial crest) on the top of the head
- Cranial crest does not converge towards the nose
- Larger warts on the lower parts of the legs than the upper
- Total length: 5.0-11.0 cm (2.0-4.3 in)
- Back color: brown, reddish-brown, or olive green
- Dark spots on the back contain either 1 or 2 warts
- Belly color: white with black spots
Habitat
- Riparian woodlands
- Deciduous forests
- Wetlands
- Along the Missouri River
Diet
- Arthropods
- Worms
- Other amphibians
American Toad Call
Life History
- Nocturnal, sometimes diurnal
- Active season: Mid-April – October
- Breeding season: Mid-spring
- Lays eggs
- Several clutches of 10,000+ eggs per female
Range
Most common range within the last 50 years and does not include outliers. For more info email dferraro1@unl.edu.