# Woodhouse's Toad (*Anaxyrus woodhousii*) Woodhouse's Toad is a friendly little creature that loves to hop around in wet places. They have smooth skin and can change color to blend in with their surroundings! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 28 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Woodhouse Toad ![Woodhouse's Toad](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bufo_woodhousii.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bufo_woodhousii.jpg) ## Appearance The Woodhouse's Toad has warty, bumpy skin, usually gray, brown, or olive, often with a light stripe down its back. Its parotoid glands behind the eyes are oval-shaped and typically separated from the cranial crests, making its head look somewhat flatter than other toads. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Bufonidae - **Genus:** Anaxyrus ## Interesting facts - Female toads can lay thousands of eggs in long, jelly-like strings. - Their scientific name honors Samuel W. Woodhouse, an American naturalist. - They drink by absorbing water through their skin, not by sipping! - When threatened, they can inflate their bodies to look bigger and scarier. ## Special abilities - **Toxic Shield:** Woodhouse's Toad has special glands behind its eyes that release toxins, which helps protect them from predators. - **Digging Power:** Woodhouse's Toad can use tough bumps on its hind feet to dig burrows, helping them hide from danger and extreme weather. - **Sticky Tongue Trap:** Woodhouse's Toad has a long, sticky tongue that helps them quickly snatch up unsuspecting insects for a meal. - **Blend In:** Woodhouse's Toad has bumpy, camouflaged skin that helps them blend perfectly with their surroundings to avoid being seen by predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-13 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.15 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-12 years - **Speed:** 2 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2500-25000 - **Metamorphosis:** 30-70 days ## Diet & Feeding A tiny bug vacuum, gobbling up insects, spiders, and other small critters it can find! - **Age differences:** Tadpoles are herbivorous, feeding on algae and detritus; adults are carnivorous. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Ants, Crickets, Spiders, Slugs, Worms - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — A known predator, especially of younger toads. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — An opportunistic predator of adult toads. - **Hunts:** European Black Ant (*Formica fusca*) — A common insect prey item for adult toads. - **Hunts:** [Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-cricket) (*Gryllus assimilis*) — A frequent part of the toad's diet. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch toads unless you are with an adult, as some can have slippery skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Woodhouse's 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 Woodhouse's Toad? 5-13 cm ### How much does Woodhouse's Toad weigh? 0.03-0.15 kg ### How long does Woodhouse's Toad live? 5-12 years ### How fast can Woodhouse's Toad move? 2 km/h ### What does Woodhouse's Toad eat? A tiny bug vacuum, gobbling up insects, spiders, and other small critters it can find! ### Where is Woodhouse's Toad usually found? Wetlands ### How does Woodhouse's Toad hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Clayton Public Schools Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayton-public-schools-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Mesilla Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-plaza) — New Mexico, US · Park - [Paseo Arts District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-arts-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Rio Grande Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rio-grande-botanic-garden-new-mexico) — New Mexico, US · Zoo - [Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bighorn-canyon-national-recreation-area) — Montana, US · National Park - [Chaco Culture National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chaco-culture-national-historical-park) — New Mexico, US · National Park [View all places to see Woodhouse's Toad](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/woodhouses-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: [Woodhouse's Toad: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woodhouses-toad)