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BUFO PUNCTATUS
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| COMMON NAME: Red-Spotted Toad
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Bufo punctatus STATUS: Federal- No status; States- No status RANKING: Global- Secure; States- Not provided FOREST PRESENT: Dixie, Fishlake, Humboldt-Toiyabe
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DESCRIPTION: The Red-Spotted Toad can be identified by the flattened head and body profile, round parotid glands that are no larger than the eye and normally reddish or orange colored warts. The cranial crests are either absent or not well-developed and the snout is pointed. The dorsal surface can range from olive to grayish brown in color. The belly is lighter colored and maybe spotted. Males have a dark throat. Adults grow to 3 inches in length.
LIFE HISTORY: The Red-Spotted
Toad inhabits dry areas normally near permanent sources of water or dampness.
It is most often found on, under or between crevices of rocks, which it
can easily climb. It can sometimes be found on flood plains and grasslands.
It is mostly nocturnal but is also active in the morning and late
afternoon. It may burrow underground when inactive. In Region
4, the Red-Spotted Toad is found only in Southern Utah and Southern Nevada.
It can be found up to 6,000 feet in elevation.
BREEDING: This toad breeds during
or shortly after rainfall from March through September. It is the
only North America toad that lays eggs singly. The eggs are deposited
on the bottom of shallow temporary and permanent pools either singly, in
small clusters or in short strings. The eggs are pigmented and encased
in a single envelope.
DIET: Larvae eat suspended matter,
algae, plant tissue and organic debris. Adults consume a variety
of terrestrial arthropods.
VOICE: The call is a long (6-10 seconds)
high pitched musical trill, which may drop in pitch at the end. Call
is higher pitched than Southwestern toads. Calls primarily at night.
USDA,
Forest Service
Federal
Building
324
25th Street
Ogden,
Utah 84401