AMPHIBIANS

American Toad, Bufo americanus

Family Bufonidae (Toads)

Size: approx. 3¼" long

Range: Eastern United States except the far South

Habitat: Areas near fresh water; woodlands, fields, urban lawns

Adapted to moist environments, the American toad is a squat, plump amphibian with stocky limbs, strong rear legs, and a short face. It has lumpy skin with enlarged warts and is colored variable shades of brown or green with darker spotting and a pale stripe down the back. There is a distinctive pair of bean-shaped paratoid glands behind the eyes that secrete a foul-tasting, milky substance to deter predators. Toads are mostly nocturnal, and they hop or walk among vegetation, rocks and logs foraging for all variety of insects, worms, and larvae. During the winter they nestle into a burrow to hibernate.

Track size (front): ½" wide x ¾" long

Track size (rear): 1" wide x 1¼" long

Description of Track: The front track is smaller than the rear and is angled inward toward the body. There are four toes on the front foot and five on the rear, and there is partial webbing between all toes on the rear. Claws are absent. The heel impression of front and rear feet shows small, bulbous protrusions. The tracks may be obscured by dragging of the feet. The track is similar to other toads but has less webbing than the frogs.