Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
Silhouette: Michael Scroggie, from original photograph by Gary M. Stolz, USFWS (original photograph in public domain). · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAmphibia (Amphibians)
- OrderAnura (Frogs and Toads)
- FamilyBufonidae (True Toads)
- GenusAnaxyrus (North American Toads)
- SpeciesAnaxyrus cognatus (Great Plains Toad)
About the Great Plains Toad
The Great Plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus) is a relatively large species of true toad native to central North America. The amphibian is native throughout the Canadian Prairies (northern Great Plains) in southern Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan; and into northern Mexico in the Sonoran Desert and Mexican Plateau.
The Great Plains toad is grey, brown, and green in color, with darker colored blotching. It can grow to anywhere between 5.1 and 11.4 cm (2 and 4.5 in) in length. Its primary diet is various species of cutworms. It prefers grassland habitat with loose soil that is easy to burrow in. Breeding occurs throughout the spring and summer months, most often immediately after heavy rainfall. In dry areas it may only emerge from its burrow for a few weeks when conditions are right, and usually at night, but in areas with permanent water bodies and abundant rain it may be active all day. Its mating call is a very loud, harsh chirping noise repeated many times, very fast.
The great plains toad feeds a range of insects such as lepidopterans, dipterans, hymenopterans, coleopterans, ants, and termites. The toad is preyed upon by the plains... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Great Plains Toad in Badlands National Park
LIVEiNaturalist
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Great Plains Toad in Badlands National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Great Plains Toad sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 32 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Great Plains Toad in Badlands National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Great Plains Toad in Badlands National Park in our monthly data.