American Toad (Bufo americanus)

Description: The American toad is short-bodied and plump, with a wide, short head and broadly rounded snout. The belly and lower sides are slightly rough and granular. Numerous rounded or spiny warts of varying size occur on the upper sides and back, the largest often in pairs near the dorsal midline. The legs, feet, and especially the thighs are rough and warty. Two cranial ridges on top of the head have lateral branches extending behind the eye. Behind these ridges are the large, bean-shaped parotid glands. The glands are usually separated from the cranial ridges, but may be joined to them by short spurs. Adults range in size from 5 to 10.8 cm (2-4.3") in snout-vent length. Males measure 5-8.5 cm (2-3.3") and females 5.7-10.8 cm (2.2-4.3").

The general color is plain brown, gray, greenish gray, or nearly black, depending partly upon the season, environment, or time of day. Background colors tend to be lighter and markings more distinct, at night. Females are more likely to exhibit overlaying patterns of dark brown, gray, or black. A light, narrow mid-dorsal stripe may be present. In patterned specimens, irregular dark spots usually surround single warts on the back, or sometimes a cluster of 2 or 3 smaller ones. The chest and anterior abdomen may be plain ivory white or sprinkled with small black flecks or spots.

Mature females are substantially larger than males and have a distinctly rougher, prickly feel when handled. Their dorsal warts may be discernibly pointed and tipped with black, red, or orange. The tactile difference and greater girth may aid searching males in identifying females. Breeding males have enlarged pads on the thumbs that are used to grasp the female during amplexus.

Toad tadpoles are entirely black. Their bodies are oval in shape, thicker posteriorly, and their tails have rounded ends.

Voice: The call is a prolonged musical trill, sometimes sustained for 30 seconds or more. Other callers are often prompted to begin before the initiating singer has finished, resulting in a continuous, pulsating sound. Gray tree frogs and spring peepers also trill, but their trills sound entirely different and are much shorter in duration.

Audio: American Toad call (coming soon)