Fun Arizona Toad Facts For Kids

Do you like learning about various amphibians? Then you should definitely read about the Arizona toad.

The current scientific name of the species is Anaxyrus microscaphus, but the original scientific name given by Edward Drinker Cope, the American herpetologist, was Bufo microscaphus. Like the Colorado River toad, the Arizona toad is also native to North America. A. microscaphus is quite widespread in its habitat range in areas of western and southwestern United States.

It is found in multiple habitats like pools, rivers, streams, marshes, springs, and more. This toad is mostly active during the night and spends a lot of time inside its burrow. There has been a decline of A. microscaphus over the years.

The main reasons behind this decline in population are habitat loss and predation. Even though they have a high reproduction rate, tadpoles often fall victim to predators and flood.

Keep on reading to learn some interesting facts about A. microscaphus. If you want to learn about more amphibians, check out these African clawed frog and red-eyed tree frog.

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Arizona Toad Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Arizona toad?

The Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) is a type of toad. It belongs to the phylum Chordata and order Anura.

What class of animal does an Arizona toad belong to?

Arizona toad belongs to the Amphibia class of Animalia kingdom. It is a member of the family Bufonidae and genus Anaxyrus. The current scientific name of the species is Anaxyrus microscaphus. However, it was previously known as Bufo microscaphus.

How many Arizona toads are there in the world?

The population of Arizona toads has not been quantified yet. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN, their population trend has been decreasing over the years. However, they are quite widespread in their distribution range and their population status is not at risk at the moment.

Where does an Arizona toad live?

Arizona toad is native to the western and southwestern United States. It is quite widespread in areas of central Arizona and southwestern Utah. They are residents of southern parts of Nevada, northern California, and New Mexico. The Virgin River is also home to these toads.

What is an Arizona toad's habitat?

The Arizona toad is quite adaptable and found in a variety of habitats in the southwestern United States. They are mostly found in temperate open areas like lowland forests and rivers. Apart from that, swamps, streams, marshes, and springs are also home to these toads.

They can be found living in ponds and irrigated land of their distribution range. Arizona toads can also be found living in agricultural land that is flooded.

Like most toads and frogs, they are active at night and thus stay in burrows during the day. From September to February, they remain underground. They are mostly found living in areas with nearby food channels and rocky or sandy terraces.

Who do Arizona toads live with?

During the breeding season, multiple males and females of this species are seen together. However, very little is known about the non-breeding season.

How long does an Arizona toad live?

The average lifespan of Arizona toad (previously called Bufo microscaphus) is somewhere between the range of four to five years.

How do they reproduce?

Arizona toads found in New Mexico, Arizona, and other areas of western United States, reproduce through external fertilization, like a common toad. Like adults of many other frogs and toads, males call for potential mates and migrate to backwaters or edges of pools from rocky or sandy terraces.

A lot of time the female are approach by competing with male adults before they can reach the male who was calling for them. The male of the species is smaller and holds on to the female.

The male and the female release their sperms and eggs at the same time.

Females of this species can lay about 4,500 eggs. After three to six days, the eggs hatch into tadpoles inside the water.

What is their conservation status?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN has listed the Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) as Least Concern in their Red List of Threatened species. So, it can be concluded that there is no immediate threat to their population status.

However, there has been a decline in the population trend of this species. The main reason for this decline is habitat loss that is caused due to human activities.

Apart from that, these toads fall prey to a number of predators. Animals like killdeer, raccoons, and wandering garter snakes prey on Arizona toads.

Arizona Toad Fun Facts

What do Arizona toads look like?

*Please note this is an image of a common American toad. If you have an image of an Arizona toad, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.

Arizona toad species (Anaxyrus microscaphus) are generally gray in color but the color can vary from brown, yellow, rust, pink in some toads of the species. They have smooth skin with some tubercles and warts.

They have pale parotoid glands and pale stripe on the head. There are dark bindings on the legs and dark spots on the back. Males of the species are slightly smaller than females.

How cute are they?

If you find amphibians cute, then you will definitely find this toad living in New Mexico and Arizona cute. This amphibian has a pale stripe on the head that many people find cute.

How do they communicate?

Arizona toad (previously known as Bufo Anaxyrus microscaphus) living in Arizona, New Mexico, and other areas of their distribution range, communicate through vocalization. The toad uses a specific high-pitched call.

This call can be generally heard at night. The calling continues for 5.7 seconds. This calling is more often during the breeding season when the males call for females to mate.

How big is an Arizona toad?

Females of the species are slightly bigger than males. The average length of this toad is 2-3 in (5.3-7.9 cm). They have almost the same length as the American toad.

How fast can an Arizona toad move?

The Arizona toad is mostly active during the night but it can be sighted occasionally during the day in its habitat range. However, the exact speed of this toad is not studied yet.

How much does an Arizona toad weigh?

The weight of the Arizona toad or the Arizona desert toad is not known yet. However, all toads of the species Anaxyrus have a weight greater than 0.5 oz (15 g). We can assume that the weight of the Arizona toads falls in that range.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no specific name for a male and female of the species. They are referred to as male Arizona toads and female Arizona toads.

What would you call a baby Arizona toad?

Babies of Arizona toads are called tadpoles, just like babies of all toads and frogs.

What do they eat?

The Arizona toad (previously known as Bufo microscaphus) generally feeds on various invertebrates. The large tongue of these amphibians comes in advantage while preying.

How far can they jump?

Toad in general can jump up to great heights. However, it is not known how far an Arizona toad can jump.

Would they make a good pet?

No, they would not make good pets. It is better to let them live in their natural habitat.

Did you know...

Woodhouse's toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii) shares the same habitat and distribution range as the Arizona toad. These two amphibians often breed among themselves that results in a decrease in the population of Arizona toad. In woodhousii vs. Arizona toad, A. woodhousii is slightly shorter in size. A. woodhousii also has a more grayish coloration.

When is Arizona toad season?

The breeding season of the Arizona toad (scientific name Anaxyrus microscaphus) is in late February. The breeding season in higher-elevation habitats generally starts in late March and goes on till April.

Is the Arizona toad poisonous?

The Colorado River toad found in North America is known to be poisonous. Just like them, the Arizona toad is also known to be poisonous. The Arizona toad venom is secreted from their parotoid glands to protect them from predators.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these European green toad facts and blue poison dart frog facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable toad coloring pages.

*Please note, the main image is of a common toad. If you have an image of the Arizona toad, let us know at hello@kidadl.com.