# Wyoming toad (*Anaxyrus baxteri*) The Wyoming toad is a special little frog that loves to live in wet places. It has a bumpy skin and can be found hopping around in the grass and mud near ponds. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Epic - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Wyoming toad](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Anaxyrus_baxteri-3.jpg&width=800) Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie , credit Sara Armstrong, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anaxyrus_baxteri-3.jpg) ## Appearance The Wyoming toad has grey-green to dark brown warty skin, often with darker spots and a pale stripe down its back. It possesses prominent parotoid glands behind its eyes. This toad is distinct from other toads by its slightly flattened head and lack of pronounced cranial crests. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Bufonidae - **Genus:** Anaxyrus ## Interesting facts - Male toads sing loud, trilling songs to attract mates during springtime. - These toads spend chilly winters buried deep in the mud to stay warm. - They were thought to be extinct until a small group was found in 1991! - Wyoming toads are only found in a tiny part of Wyoming, nowhere else on Earth! ## Special abilities - **Toxic Shield:** Wyoming toad has special glands that release a bad-tasting poison, which helps them deter predators. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Wyoming toad can blend into its muddy and grassy home because of its mottled skin patterns. - **Super Tongue Trap:** Wyoming toad can quickly snatch insects with its long, sticky tongue, which helps them catch fast prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-7 cm - **Weight:** 0.028-0.056 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1000-6000 - **Metamorphosis:** 30-45 days ## Diet & Feeding These toads are expert bug hunters, feasting on small insects they find on land. - **Age differences:** Tadpoles primarily graze on algae and detritus in the water before becoming insect-eating adults. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Ants, Flies, Grasshoppers, Crickets, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Terrestrial Garter Snake (*Thamnophis elegans*) — Snakes are common predators of adult toads and juveniles. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Raptors prey on toads when they are active near water. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Ants are a primary food source for foraging Wyoming toads. - **Eats:** [Two-striped Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/two-striped-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus bivittatus*) — Grasshoppers are a significant food source for these insectivores. ## Traits - [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. - [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. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching frogs and toads, as they can have sensitive skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wyoming 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 Wyoming toad? 5-7 cm ### How much does Wyoming toad weigh? 0.028-0.056 kg ### How long does Wyoming toad live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Wyoming toad move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Wyoming toad eat? These toads are expert bug hunters, feasting on small insects they find on land. ### Where is Wyoming toad usually found? Wetlands ### How does Wyoming toad hunt? Ambush ## 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: [Wyoming toad: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wyoming-toad)