Toads

The only genus of true toads in North America is Bufo, of which 17 species occur north of Mexico. One of the most widespread species is the American toad (Bufo americanus), an abundant animal in eastern North America. The common or Woodhouse toad (B. woodhousei) is most abundant in the eastern and central United States, but occurs as far west as California. The great plains toad (B. cognatus) occurs in moist places throughout the prairie region. The western toad (B. boreas) is a widespread, western species.

Some other toad-like animals also bear mentioning, even though they are not "true" toads, that is, they are not in the family Bufonidae.

There are three species of narrow-mouthed toads (family Microhylidae) in southern North America. These are burrowing, nocturnal amphibians that specialize in eating ants, and are rarely seen outside of their breeding season. The eastern narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) occurs in the southeastern states, while the western narrow-mouthed toad (G. olivacea) has a southwestern distribution.

The narrow-toed toads (family Leptodactylidae) lack webbing between their toes. These animals lay their eggs on land, with the tadpole developing within the egg, and a small toad hatching directly from the egg. The only exception is the white-lipped toad (Leptodactylus labialis) of Mexico, which lays its eggs near water, into which the tadpoles wriggle as soon as they hatch. All of the seven North American species of narrow-toed toads have restricted distributions. The greenhouse toad (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) occurs over much of peninsular Florida, while the barking toad (Hylactophryne augusti) occurs locally in Texas.

There is one species of bell toad (family Leiopelmatidae), the tailed toad (Ascaphus truei) of the northwestern states and adjacent Canada. The "tail" of the males is actually a copulatory organ, used to achieve the unusual, internal fertilization of this species.

There are five species of spadefoot toads (family Pelobatidae) in North America. These are nocturnal animals of relatively dry habitats, which breed opportunistically An American toad, Bufo americanus, perched in the grass. Photograph by Kenneth H. Thomas. The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission. in the springtime if recent rains have provided them with appropriate, temporary ponds. The eastern spade-foot (Scaphiopus holbrooki) occurs in the southeast of the continent, while the plains spadefoot (Spea bombi-frons) is widespread in the shortgrass prairie of the interior, and the western spadefoot (Spea hammondi) occurs in the southwest.