# Western Toad (*Anaxyrus boreas*) The Western Toad is a plump, bumpy little friend found in many places! They have a loud, croaky call and love to hop around in wet areas like ponds and streams. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 23 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Western Toad](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bufo_boreas_5629.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bufo_boreas_5629.JPG) ## Appearance The Western Toad has warty, usually greenish-gray to brown skin, often with a light stripe down its back. Its prominent parotoid glands behind its eyes help distinguish it from frogs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Bufonidae - **Genus:** Anaxyrus ## Interesting facts - A group of toads is called a knot! - Baby toads, called tadpoles, live underwater and eat plants! - Female toads lay thousands of eggs in long, jelly-like strings! - Toads absorb water through their skin, so they never need to drink! ## Special abilities - **Burrow Master:** Western Toad can dig backwards into soft soil using its hind legs to hide from danger and escape the sun. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Western Toad can lighten or darken its skin to better blend into its surroundings, making it a master of disguise. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-13 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.13 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2000-16000 - **Metamorphosis:** 30-80 days ## Diet & Feeding Western Toads are expert insect hunters, gobbling up many tiny creepy crawlies! - **Age differences:** Tadpoles eat tiny plants and algae; adults hunt insects. - **Primary Foods:** insects, spiders, slugs, worms, beetles, ants - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Terrestrial Garter Snake (*Thamnophis elegans*) — Garter snakes are one of the few predators tolerant of toad toxins. - **Eaten by:** [American Crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crow) (*Corvus brachyrhynchos*) — Crows and ravens can prey on Western Toads, especially younger ones. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons might attempt to wash toads before eating them. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching a toad, as their skin can be sensitive. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Toad? Check the toe pads, leg length, eye markings, back pattern and body shape. Don't lean on color: some frogs change shade to match their surroundings. Frog Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Western Toad? 6-13 cm ### How much does Western Toad weigh? 0.03-0.13 kg ### How long does Western Toad live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Western Toad move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Western Toad eat? Western Toads are expert insect hunters, gobbling up many tiny creepy crawlies! ### Where is Western Toad usually found? Wetlands ### How does Western Toad hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Arastradero Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arastradero-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Lake Oroville State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-oroville-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Ruth Bancroft Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruth-bancroft-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Western Toad](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-toad) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Western Toad: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-toad)