Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) 



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 'he hind feet and a body length of 2- 

 3.5". 

 Eggs and Tadpoles: Similar to the Western 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 17 days (Hahn 1968, 

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

 warm rains. 



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. Its 

 geographic and habitat relationships with other toads in Montana are not well known. It was 

 not found during our 1994 surveys on the Sioux-CNF, but historic museum records exist 

 from the Long Pines; it was reported from"just west of the North Cave Hills" and "near the 

 Slim Buttes" by Visher (1914). It should be watched for at low elevations in prairie or shrub- 

 steppe habitat on the Sioux-CNF. Any located on the Sioux-CNF 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 S4. 



