Fact File
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus fowleri
Classification: Amphibian
Size: 2-3 inches in length.
Identifying Characteristics
This is a small- to medium-sized toad with 3 or more warts in each large dorsal blotch, no enlarged warts on the legs, chest and belly with no spots, and a paratoid gland (the enlarged bump behind each eye) that touches the ridge on the forehead (see page 9). The dorsal coloration is usually brownish or gray, occasionally greenish or brick red, with usually a light mid-dorsal stripe. Normally the belly is unspotted, but there is frequently a single dusky spot on the breast.
Distribution:
This toad occurs statewide in Virginia and is especially abundant in the Coastal Plain region. This species inhabits sandy areas near lakes or in river valleys.
Did You Know?
Fowler’s Toads can orient themselves by using both olfactory cues (smell) and the sun.
Last updated: August 14, 2024
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