Amphibians · Anura · Bufonidae

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The American toad is one of the commonest and most beneficial amphibians of eastern North America: a single adult can eat several thousand insects in a season, many of them garden pests. Its call, a long, musical trill that can go on for more than thirty seconds, is a characteristic sound of spring.

Weight

22 g on average

Size

5 cm – 11 cm

Lifespan

36 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestFreshwaterGrasslandInsectivore Nocturnal Solitary Amphibian Temperate forest Freshwater Grassland

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Fun facts

alimentaciónIt can eat several thousand insects and other small invertebrates over a single summer, doing real work as a pest controller in gardens and allotments.
A single American toad can eat more than ten thousand insects in a season, many of them garden pests, which makes it one of the most effective allies of pesticide-free gardening.
Its call is a long, musical trill that can go on for more than half a minute without a break, and a chorus of males in spring can be heard from a considerable distance.
It can live more than thirty years in captivity, an extraordinary lifespan for a garden amphibian, and shows a remarkable fidelity to the same refuge over the years.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Woodland, meadows, allotments and gardens of eastern North America
Sexual maturity: 2.5 years
Gestation / incubation: 8 days
Litter / clutch size: 6000

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaxyrus_americanus