Great Plains Toad {Bufo cogtiatus) 



Description: Adults have dry skin with small warts. The coloration is dominated by a number of 

 large, dark, somewhat symmetrical spots surrounded by light edges on the back. The dorsal 

 background color is gray, light brown or olive green. The Great Plains Toad has converging 

 V-shaped 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. The pupils 

 are horizontal. The adult has two black tubercles on the hind feet and a body length of 2-3.5". 

 Eggs and Tadpoles. Similar to the Woodhouse's Toad. 



Similar species: Other Montana toads lack the somewhat symmetrical spotted pattern on the 

 back. NOTE: It is very difficult to distinguish among the four Montana toad species in 

 recently transformed toadlets. 



Habitat and Habits: Adults may favor higher elevation grasslands than Woodhouse's Toad which 

 favors floodplains (Bragg 1940, Timkin and Dunlap 1965, Black 1970). They have also been 

 found in agricultural areas, open Ponderosa pine forests and savannahs in southeastern 

 Montana (Black 1970). They are most active on nights following heavy rains (Hammerson 

 1982a). They normally breed in temporary ponds resulting from heavy rains or irrigation 

 runoff or reservoirs with much fluctuation (Bragg 1940, Hammerson 1982a). In Montana 

 breeding apparently occurs from May to July (Black 1970). Females lay strings of eggs which 

 hatch after 2-3 days (Hammerson 1982a). Young typically metamorphose after about 1.5 

 months, though this has been reported to occur in as few as 1 7 days (Hahn 1968, Hammerson 

 1982a). They spend much of the year underground and emerge in response to warm rains. 

 Adults were encountered on the Miles City District, BLM in 1998 between 29 April - 25 

 June, tadpoles were noted at two sites (Garfield and Prairie counties), on 24 and 30 June. 



Surveying: Adults may be located by using their loud, identifying calls on warm (>60° F) nights 

 following heavy rains (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: Occurs in localized areas in eastern Montana, with large gaps in its known range. 



Geographical and habitat relationships of the Great Plains Toad with other toads in Montana 

 are not well known, nor are status and distribution clear This species was found on 6 surveys 

 in 3 counties in 1998 (Table 1, Appendix 2). It should be watched for at low elevations in 

 prairie or shrub-steppe habitat. Any located should be well-documented with a description 

 written at the time indicating how this species was differentiated from other toads present in 

 Montana. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S3S4. 



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