Woodhouse's Toad {Bitfo woodhousii) 



Description: Adults have dry skin with small warts, and are gray, brown, or olive-green with 

 paler mottling or spots. A prominent white or yellowish line runs down the center of the 

 back; very young transformed toads typically lack the dorsal line, and the warts are often red- 

 brown in color. Woodhouse's Toad has parallel cranial crests between the eyes and post- 

 orbital crests connecting to them at a right angle behind the eyes; the post-orbital crests 

 typically touch the parotoid glands. If a lump-like boss is present on the snout, it does not 

 extend back between the eyes. The pupils are horizontal. The adult has two black tubercles 

 on the hind feet and a body length of 2.5-4". 

 Eggs and Tadpoles: Similar to those of the Western Toad. 



Similar species: The Western Toad lacks cranial crests. The Great Plains Toad has large, white- 

 bordered, dark, dorsal blotches. The Canadian Toad has a lump between the eyes; frequently 

 the parotoid gland is separated from the post-orbital crest which may be broken or absent. 

 NOTE: It is very difficult to distinguish among the four Montana toad species eggs, larvae, 

 and recently-transformed toadlets. 



Habitat and Habits: Adults are partially terrestrial but often found near water. They are usually 

 found in irrigated agricultural areas and flood plains, rather than the more upland areas used 

 by Great Plains Toads (Bragg 1940, Timkin and Dunlap 1965, Black 1970). They are most 

 active at night, although they may at times be found feeding during the day (Hammerson 

 1982a). They typically breed in permanent lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and slow streams, with a 

 preference for shallow areas with mud bottoms (Black 1970, Hammerson 1982a, Baxter and 

 Stone 1985). Breeding and egg laying is spread out over the spring and early summer, with 

 knowTi dates from Montana ranging from 4 May to 1 July (Black 1970). 



Surveying: Adults may easily be found by using their loud calls for identification on warm (>54° 

 F) nights; calling peaks during the first few hours after sunset (Hammerson 1982a). "Road 

 hunting" on warm nights may also be effective. Eggs and tadpoles are seen in ponds during 

 the day and can be sampled with a dipnet; however, identification of toad eggs and tadpoles 

 is difficult or impossible in the field. 



Status: Woodhouse's Toad is relatively common in southeastern Montana, however, its status 

 elsewhere in the state is unclear. A tadpole, reported as Woodhouse's Toad, present in the 

 Montana State University Museum was collected at the mouth of Trout Creek on the 

 Missouri River in 1948; it should be treated as hypothetical, until verified, given the 

 difficulty identifying Bnfo tadpoles and the long distance to the nearest record. Geographic 

 and habitat relationships with other toads in Montana are not well known. It should be 

 watched for at low elevations in prairie or shrub-steppe habitat on the HNF; it could occur 

 along the Missouri Ri\'er. Any located on the HNF should be well documented with a 

 description indicating how the species was differentiated. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S4. 



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