American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
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 americanus (American Toad)
About the American Toad
The American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is a common species of toad found throughout the eastern half of Canada and the United States. It is divided into three subspecies: the eastern American toad (A. a. americanus), the dwarf American toad (A. a. charlesmithi) and the rare Hudson Bay toad (A. a. copei). Taxonomic treatments in 2006 placed this species in the genus Anaxyrus instead of Bufo.
A. americanus lays eggs in two long ropes of 2,000-20,000 small black eggs (1-2mm in diameter) surrounded by jelly. Egg strings are in shallow water, typically entwined around vegetation or laying on the bottom of the pond.
American Toad eggs hatch into tadpoles in 3-12 days. The hatched tadpoles, while very small, are recognizable by their skinny tails in relation to the size of their round black bodies. They reach adulthood in 50–65 days. When metamorphosis is complete, the "toadlets" may stay in the water for a short period of time before transitioning to be mostly land based. Often times, groups of tadpoles reach the toadlet stage at once and a begin a mass migration to higher ground. Typically, toadlets migrate to shaded areas in the mid-range and upland forests... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of American Toad in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fowler's Toad
Anaxyrus fowleri
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
Wood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticus
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
Upland Chorus Frog
Pseudacris feriarum
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Gastrophryne carolinensis
Green Treefrog
Dryophytes cinereus
Eastern Spadefoot
Scaphiopus holbrookii
Northern Cricket Frog
Acris crepitans
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a American Toad in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a American Toad sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 287 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see American Toad in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for American Toad in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.