Woodhouse's Toad {Bufo 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; ver>' young transformed toads typically lack the dorsal line, and the warts are often red- 

 brown in color. It 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 the Western Toad. 



Similar species: Western Toad lacks cranial crests. 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 post-orbital crest and post-orbital crest broken or absent. 

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

 transformed toadlets. 



Habitat and Habits: The adults are partially terrestrial but often found near water. They are 

 usually found in irrigated agricultural areas and floodplains, versus the 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 out 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 

 known 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: It was not found during our 1994 surveys on the Sioux-CNF. Historic locations are 

 known from the Ekalaka Hills and Long Pines in Montana and it was reported (as B. 

 americanus) from Harding County by Visher (1914) who called it "quite plentiful especially 

 around buildings." Woodhouse's Toad is relatively common in southeastern Montana; 

 however, its status elsewhere in the state is unclear. Its geographic and habitat relationships 

 with other toads in Montana are not well known. It should be watched for particularly 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. 



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