Chihuahuan Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis)
Description: This toad is easily identifiable by its small size and green coloration. The head is wedge-shaped, and is noticeably flattened. The cranial crests are reduced and are spotted with a discontinous series of black-tipped warts. In males, the throat coloration is dusky or black, whereas in females, it is yellow or white. Males are slightly smaller than females, measuring approximately 1.5 - 1.8 inches SVL, where females are approximately 1.7 - 2.1 inches SVL. (SVL: Snout to Vent Length)
Habitat: Green toads are relatively widespread and at least locally common. They are secretive, however, only readily found during and immediately after periods of rainfall; their habitat is semi-arid and often very dry.
Range: It is found in the southwestern United States in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as in northern Mexico in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Durango, and Zacatecas.
Diet: No comprehensive study of the food habits of green toads has been published, although individuals likely feed on a variety of small arthropods and other invertebrates. It has been reported green toads feeding on small insects, especially Hymenoptera (ants) and small Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera.
Reproduction: Breeding occurs from late March to August, stimulated by summer rains. Males move from drier, terrestrial habitat to aquatic breeding sites where they form choruses. Females are attracted by chorusing males. Breeding aggregations do not usually last long, only a few days.
Status: Colorado & Kansas classified as Imperiled. Arizona & Oklahoma classified as Vulnerable. Texas & New Mexico classied as apparently secure.
»» Kingdom: Animalia - Animals
»» Phylum: Chordata - Chordates
»» Subphylum: Vertebrata - Vertebrates
»» Class: Amphibia - Amphibians
»» Order: Anura - Frogs & Toads
»» Family: Bufonidae - Toads
»» Genus: Anaxyrus
»» Species: Anaxyrus debilis - Chihuahuan Green Toad
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Anaxyrus debilis", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Content may have been omitted from the original, but no content has been changed or extended.
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