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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature:  Toads


Amphibians are an important indicator species to the health of an environment. These are some of the first species to die off when pollutants become too high. So keep an eye on them in your local streams and ponds.
 
Amphibians develop in water (like the tadpole) and later may move into terrestrial environments (like the tree frog) or may stay in their watery environments (like the California newt) depending on the species. Many amphibians breathe through their skin making them very sensitive to environmental toxins. There are large declines in amphibian populations in California due to loss of habitat, introduced species, and pollutants. Many species are endangered or of special concern.

Frogs and toads have four legs, with enlarged rear legs, and no tail. An exception is the male Tailed Frog, which appears to have a short tail, which is really a reproductive organ. They can be found during the day or at night, in water, and on land, including climbing in bushes and trees and on roads at night. Toads eat insects like grasshoppers, crickets, spiders and snails. Their eggs, tadpoles and the toads themselves are food for many animals such as raccoons and herons.
California's red spotted toad is found in California nature The red-spotted toad is a small, long toad that is up to 3 inches long. This California toad has round parotoid glands, a characteristic which distinguishes it from other toad species in the region. It tends to be whitish when found in association with limestone, light tan to red around volcanic rocks, to brown above, with scattered reddish tubercles (raised bumps); the underside is creamy white.

Male red spotted toads have dark throats and single vocal sacs. The body and head are dorso- ventrally compressed, giving this toad a flattened appearance.

The red spotted toad is insectivorous. It breeds mainly after summer rains in quiet pools. The call of the male is a high-pitched musical trill, which may be confused with the sound of a cricket. This is the only toad species native to our region that lays its eggs singly. Tadpoles metamorphose in 6 to 8 weeks. This species is nocturnal through the hot summer months, but may be active in the morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cool enough.
At 7 inches or more the Sonoran Desert toad is one of the largest toads native to North America. Adults have a uniformly green to greenish-gray dorsum (topside of the body) and creamy white venter (underside). Large white turbercles, or “warts,”are found at the angle of the jaw, but aside from the large parotoid glands and a few large lumps on the hind legs, this species has relatively smooth skin.

Sonoran Desert toads feed upon a variety of insects throughout their lives. Adults eat primarily beetles, although large individuals will occasionally eat small vertebrates including other toads. Sonoran Desert toads are active from late May to September, though principally during the summer rainy season. They are nocturnal during the hot summer months. The male’s call is weak, sounding somewhat like a ferryboat whistle. This toad is common in the Sonoran Desert.  Sonoran Desert toads have extremely potent, defensive toxins that are released from several glands in the skin. Animals that harass this species generally are intoxicated through the mouth, nose, or eyes. Dog owners should be cautious: the toxins are strong enough to kill full grown dogs that pick up or mouth the toads.
The California toad is a large toad found in California nature The California toad tends to walk rather then hop. As with all true toads, it can secrete a sticky white poison from its warts and skin glands. Though not deadly it can irritate the eyes and cause illness if swallowed, but will not cause warts.

This chunky short-legged toad is 2 1/2 to 5 inches in length. It is dusky-gray or greenish above with “warts” set in dark blotches and often tinged with rust and has a white or cream colored dorsal stripe. Its croak is weak and sounds like the peeping of baby chicks.

The California toad frequents a great variety of habitats: desert .streams, grasslands, woodlands, and meadows near ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams. It will make its own burrow or live in a former small rodent home. This toad is nocturnal at warm, low elevations and diurnal at higher elevations. Mating takes place from January to July. Egg strings are attached to vegetation in shallow, still water. One female may lay 16,000 eggs a year. The eggs hatch into tiny black tadpoles; changing through metamorphosis, they develop legs and loose their tail to become toads.
The colorful Yosemite toad was once one of the most common high-elevation Sierra amphibians. Active for only four to five months per year, it has just a short time in which to reproduce and eat enough to survive the long season of hibernation under the snow. The number of Yosemite toads has now declined precipitously throughout the Sierra Nevada, particularly in Yosemite National Park, where the toad was first discovered and after which it is named.

Yosemite toads have seldom been found more than a hundred yards from permanent water, although they spend little time actually in water. Yosemite toads are closely related to three other species (Black toad, western toad, and Amargosa toad, which together constitute the "boreas group". In their juvenile stage, Yosemite toad tadpoles swim in shallow pools of melted ice water, and in slow moving mountain streams. They live primarily at high elevations, anywhere from 5,000 to 11,000 feet. These grassland amphibians burrow under the soil, crawl beneath rocks and fallen logs and seek shelter in abandoned rodent holes during the night.
Frogs        Salamanders        Newts        Toads
 
 
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