The Fowler’s Toad is a species of small toads found in parts of the United States and Canada. First described in 1882, this amphibian is presently found in almost all human-resided localities. They are a close cousin to the well-known American toad, though the former is much smaller in size and have several other differences.
Size: The adults are typically between 5 and 9.5 cm (2.0 to 3.7 in) in length.
Body/Skin: They are usually grey, olive green, brown or rust red in color with dark wart-like spots all over the dorsal (upper) side of the body. The ventral (lower) side is whitish.
Fowler’s Toad
Feet: Webbed feet like most other frog species.
Eyes: Round eyes protruding out at the top of their heads.
Sexual Dimorphism: The males are smaller and lighter by weight than the females. Also, the males have a dark throat.
Lifespan/Longevity
Fowler’s toads have a lifespan of approximately 5 years.
Distribution/Range
They are spread widely from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast – except the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and almost all of Florida. They are also spread in Texas, Missouri, and Illinois, as well as, in several parts of adjacent Canada. Presently, no regional subspecies of this toad has been classified.
Habitat: Where do Fowler’s Toad Live
The Fowler’s toads are mostly found in the prairies, woodlands, beaches, and meadows.
Fowler’s Toad Habitat
Fowler’s Toad Pictures
Behavior
The Fowler’s toad is mostly a nocturnal creature; however, they can also be seen during the day with a frequency higher than the American toad. They are often seen in localities and urban or rural areas inhabited by man and are not really bothered seeing humans around them. Even in gardens, they would sit in the grass, indifferent, even when they feel a human presence around them.
The amphibians are not active during very hot or very cold days. When the scorching summer or the chilling winter arrives, they will spend time inside their burrows hibernating like most other toad species. If touched or handled, the creature will usually urinate in hand in an attempt to escape.
Fowler’s Toad Call
Fowler’s toads are less vocal compared to many other toad species, including the American toad. The frogs would usually emit a nasal and loud “waaaah” that might last anything between one and four seconds. The male frogs would also give out a chirping call (called the ‘release call’), when mistakenly held or handled by some other male.
Fowler’s Toad Baby
Fowler’s Toad Images
Diet: What Do Fowler’s Toad Eat
Primarily an insectivorous, the adult individuals consume different kinds of insects and small invertebrates. However, unlike the American toads, they avoid earthworms. The tadpoles live on bacterial mats and algae from underwater surfaces like rocks and water plants.
Mating and Reproduction
The creatures are known to breed in the warmer seasons, usually between April to July, but more frequently between May and June. Their choicest sites for mating include shallow open waters like woodland ponds, farm ponds, lake edges, and marshes.
When the time for mating comes, the male toads migrate to their favorite sites where they will begin calling out for their mates. The time between each call lasts up to 30 seconds.
Interestingly, the call frequently attracts both male and female Fowler’s toads. Such an act eventually causes mistaken identities in the process of breeding especially when a male tries to mate with its same sex. Finally, as the second male lets out a chirping release call, the first male realizes the mistake instantly.
When the male ultimately finds a female, it will get hold of the female from behind, ride it, and finally, both the toads get engaged in the act of copulation.
Fowler’s Toad Tadpoles
Fowlers Toads
Life Cycle of the Baby Fowler’s Toad
From a successful mating, a female can produce up to 7,000-10,000 eggs that fertilize externally. It takes around 2-7 days for the eggs to hatch, giving birth to tiny tadpoles.
These young creatures go through the process of metamorphosis, changing into baby toads within 4-6 weeks. The tadpoles are oval-shaped with upper and lower fins on both sides and a long tail, all of which eventually disappear, as they keep growing. When born, they are 1 to 1.4 cm (0.39 to 0.55 in) in length. They use their tooth-like structures inside their mouth to eat.
Surprisingly, these baby toads might grow to their sexual maturity within one growing season; however, there are also slow-growing individuals in the pack of babies that might take up to three years to attain puberty.
Adaptations
Fowler’s toads use their body (skin) coloration as a defensive mechanism to blend into their surroundings.
As a behavioral adaptation, these creatures are also known to play dead when attacked or handled.
These toads secrete a sticky, wet compound from the warts on their back skin that are both toxic and distasteful to many of its predators.
Predators
Predators of Fowler’s toad are mostly various species of local snakes, small mammals, and birds.
Conservation Status
These amphibians are abundantly found throughout its habitat, and the IUCN 3.1 Red List has enlisted them under ‘LC’ (Least Concern) category.
Fowler Toad
Pictures of Fowlers Toad
Interesting Facts
In the Canadian province of Ontario, the toad is considered a species at risk.
Previously, the Fowler’s toad was considered a subspecies of Woodhouse’s toad.
Its generic name ‘Anaxyrus’ comes from the Greek term for ‘king’ or ‘chief’.
Anyone can identify an adult (full-grown) Fowler’s toad with a pale stripe on the back.
Though the toxicity and foul taste of the Fowler’s toad is less intense than the other venomous frog species, they can still induce drooling and vomit in pet dogs and cats.
