Colorado River Toad

Facts

IUCN DATA DEFICIENT (DD)

Facts about this animal

Dark olive green color and leathery skin. With a length of 11-18 cm the largest native North American species of toad with cranial crests, elongate parotid glands, raised warts on hind legs. Bufo alvarius is nocturnal and more aquatic than most toad species. It is a solitary, species, until the mating season in the summer months when large groups of toads (up to 200 males) gather at temporary pools to mate. They appear when the summer showers start and breed in the temporary pools that form after the rains begin. Males croak incessantly, but have a relatively weak call, compared to other frogs and toads. They may however also actively search for females. It eats snails, centipedes, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, scorpions, lizards, mice, and other smaller toad species. Generally, between 7,500 and 8,000 eggs encased in a long, single tube of jelly, will be laid by the female in water and hatch in 2-12 days. The larval period is about 1 month. The tadpoles are a yellow/brown color.

Did you know?
that, if the toad is molested or bothered, it can secrete a poison (toxin is called bufotenine), which irritates the mucous membranes of most predators. This poison can affect animals as large as dogs, and can cause temporary paralysis or death. In humans it can cause powerful hallucinations when ingested and in large amounts may even be able to kill a person (“The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert”).

Factsheet
Class	AMPHIBIA
Order	ANURA
Suborder	NEOBATRACHIA
Family	BUFONIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Bufo ailaoanus
Name (English)	Colorado River Toad
Name (French)	Crapaud du Colorado
Name (German)	Coloradokröte
Name (Spanish)	Sapo del Colorado
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Northern parts of Mexico, the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico, and the southeast corner of California.
Habitat	It can be found in a variety of desert and semi-arid habitats from sea-level to 1600 m: brushy desert with creosote bush and mesquite washes, semi-arid grasslands, rocky riparian zones with sycamore and cottonwoods, and oak-walnut woodlands in mountain canyons (remaining underground throughout the day, frequently in rodent burrows). It is semi-aquatic and is usually associated with large, somewhat permanent streams. It is occasionally found near small springs, temporary rain pools, human-made canals and irrigation ditches
Wild population	No data available but the species is believed to be common
Zoo population	106 specimens reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 45 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Why do zoos keep this animal

As an amphibian - i.e. an animal whose existence depends on the presence of water - that lives also in the desert, exhibiting this species is certainly of educational value.

How this animal should be kept

Both land and water areas must be available to the Colorado River Toad. They may be fed insects and pinkie mice.