Fowler's toad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fowler's toad |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
The Fowler's toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) is a type of toad. It belongs to the Bufonidae family. This toad lives in North America. You can find it in much of the eastern United States and parts of nearby Canada. It was once thought to be a kind of Woodhouse's toad.
Contents
Why is it Called Fowler's Toad?
The toad's scientific name, fowleri, honors a naturalist named Samuel Page Fowler. He lived from 1800 to 1888 in Massachusetts. He helped start a natural history group called the Essex County Natural History Society.
What Does a Fowler's Toad Look Like?
Fowler's toads are usually brown, grey, or olive green. They can also be rust red. They have dark, warty spots on their skin. If a toad has a pale stripe down its back, it is an adult.
The belly of the toad is usually whitish. It often has one dark spot. Male toads might be darker in color than females. Adult toads are typically about 5 to 9.5 centimeters (2 to 3.7 inches) long.
Tadpoles
A Fowler's toad tadpole is oval-shaped. It has a long tail with fins on the top and bottom. Tadpoles are about 1 to 1.4 centimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Fowler's toads reproduce in the warmer parts of the year. This usually happens in May and June. They breed in shallow, open water. This includes ponds, lakeshores, and marshes.
Mating Calls
The male toad makes a special call. This call attracts female toads. But it also attracts other males. If a male tries to mate with another male, the second male will make a chirping "release call." This tells the first male he made a mistake.
When a male finds a female, they will mate. The female can lay between 7,000 and 10,000 eggs. These eggs hatch in 2 to 7 days. Fowler's toads can breed many times during the spring. Tadpoles might become adults in one season. However, it can take up to three years.
Hybrid Toads
Fowler's toads sometimes breed with other close toad relatives. They can hybridize with the American toad and the Woodhouse's toad. The East Texas toad might even be a mix of the Woodhouse's toad and the Fowler's toad.
Behavior and Survival
Snakes, birds, and small mammals hunt Fowler's toads. The toad uses camouflage to hide from predators. Its skin color helps it blend into its surroundings.
Defense Mechanisms
Fowler's toads also have a special defense. They can release a bad-tasting liquid from the warts on their backs. This liquid is unpleasant for predators. It can even be deadly to small mammals. Sometimes, a toad will even play dead to escape danger.
Habitat
Fowler's toads live in many different places. They can be found in open woodlands, sandy prairies, meadows, and beaches. When it gets hot and dry, or during winter, they burrow into the ground.
What Do Fowler's Toads Eat?
Adult Fowler's toads eat insects and other small creatures. These are called invertebrates. Unlike the American toad, they do not eat earthworms.
Tadpole Diet
Fowler's toad tadpoles eat algae and bacteria. They scrape these off rocks and plants. They use special tooth-like parts in their mouths to do this.
Conservation Status
Protecting the places where Fowler's toads breed is very important. Off-road vehicles used on beaches and dunes can harm these toads. Farm chemicals have also caused their numbers to drop in some areas.
Fowler's toad is a species at risk in Ontario, Canada. It is a species of special concern in New Jersey, USA. It is also considered threatened or endangered in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Images for kids
-
Fowler's toad in the Missouri Ozarks
See also
In Spanish: Anaxyrus fowleri para niños
