Anaxyrus debilis

The North American green toad (Anaxyrus debilis, formerly Bufo debilis) is a species of toad found in the southwestern United States in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. It is also found in northern Mexico in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Durango, and Zacatecas. It is commonly called green toad (with many variants).^[2]

Green toad
Western green toad, Anaxyrus debilis insidior
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Bufonidae
Genus:	Anaxyrus
Species:	A. debilis
Binomial name
Anaxyrus debilis (Girard, 1854)
Synonyms
Bufo debilis Girard, 1854 Bufo insidior Girard, 1854

Description

Green toads are typically bright to pale green in color, with black spotting.^[3] They are not large toads; adult males are about 37–46 mm (1.5–1.8 in) in snout–vent length and females 44–54 mm (1.7–2.1 in).^[4]

Habitat and reproduction

Green toads are relatively widespread and at least locally common.^[1] They are elusive, typically found during or after rainfall in semi-arid and dry habitats. Breeding occurs from late March to August, stimulated by summer rains. Males move from drier, terrestrial habitat to aquatic breeding sites where they form choruses. Females are attracted by chorusing males. Breeding aggregations do not usually last long, only a few days.^[4]

Subspecies

Two subspecies, originally described as separate species, can be identified,^[2][3][4] but this distinction is disputed:^[2]

• Eastern green toad, Anaxyrus debilis debilis
• Western green toad, Anaxyrus debilis insidior

See also

• European green toad (Bufo viridis), a species that is only distantly related, but shares the same common name.