American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus
Range: Eastern United States and Eastern
Canada

Habitat: Anywhere there is a permanent or

semi-permanent body of water.

Diet: Invertebrates

Lifespan: They can live to be at least 20 years in captivity.

Description: America toads are normally a shade of brown, but can also be olive green,
rusty orange, red with light patches, or grey. Their skin can change color from light to dark
depending on temperature or stress level. Their warty skin contains a poisonous substance
that is milky white in color. They will grow up to 3.9” long, with the females being larger than
the males.

Breeding: Males call to attract a mate starting in late spring and lasting until early to mid-
summer. Females lay a two stings of 4,000 to 8,000 eggs (that measure between 20 and 60
feet long when stretched) on the surface of the water. The eggs are counter shaded, black on
top and white on the bottom. The eggs hatch between 3 and 12 days and complete
metamorphosis in 40 and 70- days.

Behavior/Adaptations: Unlike some other species, the American toad will actively catch
their prey and shoot out their sticky tongue to grab their food. If their food is too large they
will use their front feet to shove the food in their mouth. They will over winter in burrows
below the frost line.

Predators: Their main predator is the eastern hognose snake, which has special adaptations
to allow it to catch and eat toads. They are also predated on by birds, snakes, lizards,
raccoons, skunks, etc. However due to their mild poison many animals avoid eating the
American toad.

Conservation: They are not considered threatened, but is considered a bio-indicator along
with other amphibians due to their susceptibility to environmental toxins that can be easily
absorbed through their permeable skin.

Call: Their call is a high pitched “Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”.

Information taken from the following sources:

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Anaxyrus_americanus/
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/frogs_toads/toads/american.html
http://mnzoo.org/american-toad/
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Anaxyrus_americanus/