American Toad Anaxyrus Americanus (Formerly Bufo Americanus)

Fluvarium Fact Sheets Eastern American toad Anaxyrus americanus (formerly Bufo americanus)

forest, open forest, forest edges and wetlands. They can even live in brackish waters. These toads are mainly nocturnal and take shelter under stones, moss, fallen logs and woodpiles during the day. Range This species is naturally found throughout eastern North America from southern Labrador in Canada down to Georgia and Louisiana in the United States. They range as far west as Manitoba, North Dakota, South

Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Eastern American toads are found northern Texas. throughout southern Labrador and eastern An exotic species in Newfoundland, they North America. In Newfoundland they are mainly are found around Corner Brook where mainly found around Corner Brook where they were originally introduced. Natural and they were originally introduced in 1960. human aided expansions have lead to their Description patchy distribution around the island. American toads range in colour from grey- American toads can be found in Corner Brook, brown to red-brown with a complex pattern Gros Morne National Park, the Codroy Valley of black striping on the limbs. A and in St. John’s. characteristic shared by all individuals are This species establishes home ranges of black spots on their back with only one or around 0.16 acres and will repeatedly use two warts in it. The underside is usually particular known hiding places. In spotted, and mainly on the forward half. Newfoundland they are estimated to expand Like all toads, they have poison sacs called their distribution by 1 km per year. parotid glands, which look like enlarged bumps located on the back, just behind the Box 1: Definitions eye. These toads have two cranial crests or Amplexus – the mating clasp of male frogs or thin protrusions on the head surrounding the toads where they cling to the back or sides eye. of the female and fertilize the eggs as she Males and females are similar in releases them. appearance, except during the breeding Brackish water – water with a low salt level. season where the throat on the males turns a dark, almost black colour. Exotic species – a non-native species introduced to an area through human Size activity. Females are slightly larger than males. Parotid glands – poison sacs found in all Throughout most of their range: toads (Family Bufonidae). Located just • Female frogs range from 5.6-11.0 cm. behind the eye, these sacs release toxic • Male frogs range from 5.1-8.5 cm. secretions when broken. The toxins cause a Measurements are from head to tail and do burning sensation when in contact with not include the legs. mucous membranes in the eyes and mouth of a predator and induce vomiting. Lifespan Females usually live up to 5 years and males Diet usually live up to 4 years. • Adult toads are carnivorous and mainly eat Habitat terrestrial invertebrates including crickets, American toads are found in almost any worms, beetles, insect larvae, ants, moths, terrain where there is water and shelter. This spiders and slugs. includes open, rocky areas, prairie, dense

The Suncor Energy Fluvarium Fact Sheets 1 Eastern American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) • Toad tadpoles are omnivorous and feed on and owls. In other parts of its distribution it organic debris and other suspended matter is mainly eaten by snakes and small in the water including algae, mammals. phytoplankton, and aquatic plants. They Relation to humans will also consume dead fish and tadpoles. In Newfoundland they are listed as an exotic Reproduction and development species. Males move into breeding sites and begin to Interesting facts call almost immediately after emerging from hibernation. In Newfoundland, this occurs as • This species was introduced to Corner early as mid-May and continues into the Brook from 1960-1963 using newly summer. metamorphosed toads from Toronto, ON. They breed in grassy, shallow, slow moving • Crows avoid breaking the poison sacs by to still waters in ponds lakes, streams and turning the frog on its back and eating its ditches. They generally choose sites with no belly. tadpole predators such as fish or other • American toads overwinter underground, species of tadpoles. just below the frost line. Male toads make a high-pitched, rapidly pulsed musical trill. Females choose their • An easy way to tell frogs and toads apart is mate based on the effort put into the call or that toads have warts. However, a person the rapid succession of the call. . cannot get warts by handling a toad. After a female chooses their mate, the • “Project Frog” in the early 1980’s was a male climbs on her back and grasps her in an collaboration between The Natural History embrace called amplexus. She then Section of the Newfoundland Museum (St. successively lays two string of eggs as the John’s) and forty junior high schools male fertilizes them. A female lays between throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. 2000-20 000 eggs depending on the females They documented the occurrence and age and body size. Their toxic secretions are distribution of frogs and toads in the also deposited on their eggs to protect them province. from predators. At The Suncor Energy Fluvarium The transparent 1-2 mm eggs hatch after about 3-12 days. The tadpoles start to • See eastern American toads in our metamorphose into toads after about 50-60 terrariums on our fluvarium level. days. A whole brood of tadpoles will • Listen to the male’s mating call. transform into toads within 6 days. Additional resources They first start to acquire their back legs as Tyning, T.F. 1990. A guide to amphibians and their respiratory system changes from gills to reptiles. Stokes Nature guide. Little, Brown lungs. Their digestive system also goes and Company: Boston. pp. 400. through changes as the young toad switches Maunder, J.E. 1983. Amphibians of the from herbivory to carnivory. Their front legs province of Newfoundland. Canadian Field develop as their tail starts to shrink and get Naturalist, 97: 33-46. absorbed for nutrients. After getting their front legs, the toads leave the water and completely absorbed their tail within 2 days. For more information, please contact: Males reach sexual maturity in their second The Suncor Energy Fluvarium summer after metamorphosis and breed the 5 Nagle's Place, following spring. Females mature at around St. John's, NL, Canada 3-4 years of age. A1B 2Z2 Predation Telephone: (709)754-3474 Tadpoles and eggs are preyed upon by • Email: [email protected] diving beetles, giant water bugs and dragonfly larvae. Website: http://www.fluvarium.ca • Adult American toads are eaten occasionally by birds such as ducks, crows

The Suncor Energy Fluvarium Fact Sheets 2 Eastern American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)