Green toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green toad |
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| Western green toad, Anaxyrus debilis insidior | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anaxyrus
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| Species: |
debilis
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| Synonyms | |
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Bufo debilis Girard, 1854 |
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The North American green toad is a small, green toad found in parts of the United States and Mexico. Its scientific name is Anaxyrus debilis. People often just call it the green toad.
You can find these toads in states like Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas in the southwestern U.S. They also live in northern Mexico, in states such as Tamaulipas and Durango.
Contents
What Does the Green Toad Look Like?
Green toads are usually bright or pale green. They have cool black spots all over their bodies.
These toads are not very big. Adult male green toads are about 37 to 46 millimeters long. Female green toads are a bit larger, measuring about 44 to 54 millimeters long.
Green Toad Habitat and Life Cycle
Green toads live in places that are often very dry. This kind of area is called semi-arid. They are quite common in many places.
These toads are a bit shy. You will mostly see them during or right after it rains. This is when they come out from their hiding spots.
Green toads start to breed from late March to August. The summer rains help them know it is time to mate. Male toads move from their dry land homes to wet areas like ponds. There, they make loud calls to attract females.
Female toads come to the breeding sites when they hear the males calling. These breeding groups do not last very long, usually only a few days.
Green Toad Types
Scientists have found two main types, or subspecies, of the green toad. They were once thought to be different species. However, some scientists still debate if they are truly separate types.
The two subspecies are:
- Eastern green toad, called Anaxyrus debilis debilis
- Western green toad, called Anaxyrus debilis insidior
See also
In Spanish: Anaxyrus debilis para niños
