Taxonomy:
Common Names by Region:
Description: Woodhouse’s toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii) is a medium-sized toad with a stout body and relatively short limbs. They typically have a grayish-brown or olive-green coloration with dark spots or blotches covering their bodies. A distinctive feature is the “W” or “Y” shaped ridge on the back of their head. Adults can reach lengths of up to 3-4 inches (7.6-10.2 cm). They have prominent parotoid glands behind their eyes, which secrete toxins as a defense mechanism against predators.
Known Range: Woodhouse’s toads are native to North America and are commonly found in various habitats across the western and central parts of the United States and northern Mexico. Their range extends from southern Canada down to Mexico, including states such as Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
Diet: Woodhouse’s toads are primarily nocturnal carnivores. They feed on a variety of insects, spiders, worms, and other small invertebrates. Their diet may also include smaller amphibians and occasionally small vertebrates.
Breeding: Breeding for Woodhouse’s toads typically occurs in the spring and early summer months. They migrate to shallow ponds, marshes, or slow-moving streams for breeding. Males produce a distinctive mating call, which attracts females to the breeding sites. Once mating occurs, females lay strings of eggs attached to vegetation or debris in the water.
Lifecycle:
Woodhouse’s toads have a lifespan of up to 10-15 years in the wild. They face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and road mortality. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and managing their habitats to ensure their continued survival.