Canadian Toad

Anaxyrus hemiophrys

The Canadian Toad is a small, bumpy-skinned frog that loves to hop around in wet areas. They are great at catching bugs and can make a funny sound when they croak!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Canadian Toad is a stocky amphibian with warty, bumpy skin, typically grey-green to brown in color. It often has a distinct light stripe down its back and two large bumps, called parotoid glands, behind its eyes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyBufonidaeGenusAnaxyrus

Canadian Toad

Interesting facts

A group of toads has a fun, quirky name: it's called a 'knot'!

Male toads sing a loud, trilling song to attract a mate.

These toads spend winter buried deep underground, safe from icy cold.

They can use their eyeballs to help push stubborn food down their throat.

Special abilities

Canadian Toad has special glands that release a milky, toxic liquid to deter predators from eating them.

Canadian Toad can quickly dig backwards into the ground using its strong hind legs to hide or escape danger.

Canadian Toad can shoot out its long, sticky tongue to quickly snatch up insects, worms, and other small prey.

Measurements & details

Length: 5-8 cm
Weight: 0.02-0.06 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 0.5 km/h
Clutch Size: 1000-6000
Metamorphosis: 40-60 days

Diet & Feeding

Canadian Toads are insectivores, mostly eating small invertebrates they catch with their sticky tongues.

Age differences: Tadpoles eat tiny plants and decaying matter, while adults eat insects and other small creatures.

Primary Foods

beetles
ants
spiders
worms
small slugs

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Snakes are major predators.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Mammals sometimes hunt toads.

eaten by

Mallard Duck

Anas platyrhynchos

Ducks can prey on tadpoles.

eats

Silky Ant

Formica fusca

Toads love to eat ants.

eats

Ground Beetle

Pterostichus melanarius

A favorite food source.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.