Southern Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus terrestris Found in Alabama: Common in southern and western regions Diet: Herbivore (eats plants) as tadpoles |
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Southern Toad in Habitat © Gary Nafis Click image to enlarge it |
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CLASSIFICATION | ||
What type of animal am I?
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The Southern Toad is an AMPHIBIAN! |
IDENTIFICATION TIPS | |||
Southern Toad
Flick – Patrick Randall Click image to enlarge it |
ADULT SOUTHERN TOAD | ||
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EGGS
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TADPOLES (Larvae)
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TOADLETS
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Roughly 1mm in diameter; in long strand |
Average 6.5-11 mm in length (less than 0.5 inches) |
Range from the size of the tadpoles to the size of the adults | |
American Toad Egg Strand |
Southern Toad Tadpole |
American Toad Toadlet |
ADAPTATIONS |
PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS |
Southern toads avoid predators using camouflage: |
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Southern toads defend themselves using a toxin: |
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Southern toads are sit-and-wait predators: |
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Sowler's toads have tongues that help them capture prey: |
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BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS | |
Southern toads are nocturnal: | |
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Southern toads communicate with one another: | |
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Southern toads use burrows to help regulate body temperature: | |
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LIFE CYCLE | ||||
Frog Life Cycle
Wikimedia – Derek Ramsey Click image to enlarge it |
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Four Life Cycle Stages of the Southern Toad | ||||
1. Egg: |
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2. Tadpoles: |
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Southern Toad Tadpole Noah J. Mueller Ph.D. Click image to enlarge it |
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3. Toadlets: |
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4. Adult: |
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American Toadlet
(closely related species) Dreamstime Click image to enlarge it |
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Life Span: |
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NATURAL Habitat Needs |
ADULTS | YOUNG |
Food |
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Water |
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Shelter |
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Places to Raise Young |
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BACKYARD Habitat Needs |
ADULTS | YOUNG |
Food |
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Water |
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Shelter |
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Places to Raise Young |
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ECOLOGICAL ROLE | |
Animals play an important ecological role in the health of habitats and ecosystems. | |
Food Source: |
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Insect Population Control: |
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Indicator Species: |
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INFORMATION SOURCES FOR THIS SPECIES