Bufo Cognatus 



Judging from the series of decidedly different sizes of this 

 toad found in the spring, at least five years must be required for 

 full growth to be attained. 



The female Bufo cognatus seldom makes any sound. When 

 taken in the hand, it shakes with wrath, but usually remains silent. 

 The male however, "talks" in a voice resembling the squawk of 

 a toy doll. This squawk of the Bufo cognatus is much like the 

 sound produced by Bufo halophilus of California. The harsh note 

 is given over and over again at brief intervals until the cause of 

 annoyance is removed. The pitch of the note is low, ranging 

 from B to A below middle C. In the midst of the harsh low- 

 pitched notes, the toad sometimes surprises one by giving a cry 

 pitched about two octaves above (usually A ). 



At the base of the throat of the male is a wrinkled black and 

 purplish spot, which at first sight, one might judge the result of 

 an injury. This is thin skin, lying fold upon fold, and can be 

 extended into a vocal bladder of enormous size. (See Fig. loo.) 



Bufo cognatus is not nearly related to the American Toad or to 

 Bufo lentiginosus, but is closely connected with Bufo compactilis 

 of the Southwest and Bufo quercicus of Georgia and Florida. The 

 relationship shows itself not only in various technical details, but 

 in visible external features. They each show the reduced femur 

 and short leg, the short head and broad depressed body, diverging 

 parotoid glands that descend on the shoulders, well-developed 

 sole tubercles, deeply indented webs, and a vocal bladder at the 

 base of the throat. The cranial ridges mark a point of variance 

 among the three. The variation in size also is notable. Bufo 

 quercicus is the smallest known toad in the world, measuring only 

 an inch and a quarter in length. Bufo compactilis is medium in 

 size, and Bufo cognatus is one of the largest toads in North 

 America. 



Bufo cognatus is peculiarly alert and active. When annoyed, 

 it inflates the lungs, thus greatly increasing the size of the body, 

 and lowers the head in a defensive attitude. It is incapable, 

 however, of any defense beyond this, and stealthily creeps away, 

 keeping the flattened body close to the ground. 



A curious incident occurred when Bufo cognatus was being 

 kept in captivity for study — an incident probably illustrative of 

 the way in which stories have arisen regarding toads found in 

 stones and buried in impossible places. A large fat specimen of 



lOI 



