(Great Plains Toad)
|
BUFO COGNATUS
(Great Plains Toad) |
| COMMON NAME: Great Plains Toad
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Bufo cognatus
STATUS: Federal- No status; States-
No status
RANKING: Global- Secure; States- Not
provided
FOREST PRESENT:
|
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DESCRIPTION: The Great Plains Toad
is medium size and can reach lengths up to 4 1/2 inches. It is identified
by the well-defined, large, dark symmetrical blotches with pale borders
on the dorsal surface. The overall color is usually gray to olive
brown. A narrow, light colored middorsal stripe maybe present. The
ventral surface is white or cream colored and is usually without spots.
Cranial crests converge on the snout to form a boss. Adult males
have a dark vocal sack that maybe concealed by a flat of lighter colored
skin.
LIFE HISTORY: The Great Plain
Toad inhabits deserts, grasslands, sagebrush plains, and open flood
plains. In the Intermountain Region, it can be found in Central to
Southern Utah and may occur on the Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La Sal and Uinta
Forests. It is an active burrower and is mostly nocturnal except
during cloudy, rainy weather. It is inactive during cold or dry spells.
It can be found up to 8,000 feet in elevation.
BREEDING: When breeding, the Great
Basin Toad can gather in great numbers in ephemeral pools, marshes, ditches,
quite streams or other water bodies that fluctuate in size. They
can migrate several hundred yards to breeding habitat. The breeding
season runs from March to September. Eggs are laid in shallow, usually
clear water. The pigmented eggs are scalloped and laid in double
stranded strings of up to 20,000 eggs. They are attached to vegetation
and objects on the bottom of pools.
DIET: Larvae eat algae, suspended
matter, organic debris and plant tissue. Adults feed primarily on
terrestrial arthropods.
VOICE: A loud high-pitched metallic
trill lasting from 5-50 seconds. When large number are gathered,
the call can be deafening. The Great Basin Toad calls mainly at night.
USDA,
Forest Service
Federal
Building
324
25th Street
Ogden,
Utah 84401