Species: Anaxyrus boreas
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
These warty toads are yellowish, dusky, tan, gray, or greenish on top, with dark markings ranging from a few spots to extensive mottling. Usually a light stripe extends along the middle of the back (most prominent in mature females; may be absent or inconspicuous in juveniles, which may have reddish warts). Parotoid glands (glandular swellings behind each eye) are oval. Cranial crests (hard ridges next to the eyes) are absent or indistinct. The tubercles on the underside of hind feet lack a sharp cutting edge; the foot tubercles are yellowish or orange in juveniles. Adult females are as large as 5 inches (12.7 cm) in snout-vent length, but males rarely exceed 3.7 inches (9.5 cm). Mature males have a dark patch on the inner surface of the thumb during the breeding season. Male lack vocal sacs but may produce repeated chirping sounds if grasped by hand (females usually are silent or emit few chirps). Larvae are black or dark brown on top; the tail fin may be heavily speckled with gray or black;and the eyes are about half way between the midline of the head and outside edge of the head. Larvae may reach a maximum total length about 2 inches (5 cm) but often are much smaller. Eggs are about 1.5-1.8 mm in diameter and are arranged in 1-3 rows (often two rows that appear to be a single zig-zag row) in long strings of two-layered jelly. Source: Hammerson (1999).
Classification
Amphibia
Anura
Bufonidae
Anaxyrus
NatureServe
Classification
Ecology and Life History
These warty toads are yellowish, dusky, tan, gray, or greenish on top, with dark markings ranging from a few spots to extensive mottling. Usually a light stripe extends along the middle of the back (most prominent in mature females; may be absent or inconspicuous in juveniles, which may have reddish warts). Parotoid glands (glandular swellings behind each eye) are oval. Cranial crests (hard ridges next to the eyes) are absent or indistinct. The tubercles on the underside of hind feet lack a sharp cutting edge; the foot tubercles are yellowish or orange in juveniles. Adult females are as large as 5 inches (12.7 cm) in snout-vent length, but males rarely exceed 3.7 inches (9.5 cm). Mature males have a dark patch on the inner surface of the thumb during the breeding season. Male lack vocal sacs but may produce repeated chirping sounds if grasped by hand (females usually are silent or emit few chirps). Larvae are black or dark brown on top; the tail fin may be heavily speckled with gray or black;and the eyes are about half way between the midline of the head and outside edge of the head. Larvae may reach a maximum total length about 2 inches (5 cm) but often are much smaller. Eggs are about 1.5-1.8 mm in diameter and are arranged in 1-3 rows (often two rows that appear to be a single zig-zag row) in long strings of two-layered jelly. Source: Hammerson (1999).