Bufo fowleri

Scientific name. Bufo fowleri

Common Name. Fowler’s Toad

General information. Primarily nocturnal, Bufo fowleri is found in sandy areas near marshes, ditches, and ponds. It feeds on ants and beetles and may use mammal burrows to escape the heat of the day.

Protected status. The Fowler’s Toad is not a protected species in Texas.

Diagnostic features. a dark pectoral region breaking apart into dark spots to the belly cranial crests that touch the parotoid glands behind the eye three or more warts in each large spot on the dorsal surface no enlarged warts on the tibia a supratympanic ridge is present.

Coloration. General dorsal coloration may be uniform yellowish-brown, brown, greenish-brown, or nearly black with many having an overlaying of reddish wash Belly with dark stippling on pectoral region. May have narrow light mid-dorsal stripe and light lateral stripes.

General distribution. In North America, Bufo fowleri is found widely across the eastern half of the US and Canada. Texas populations of this species are along the western boundary of this distribution.

Texas distribution. Restricted to eastern quarter of the state.

Habitat. Bufo fowleri can be found along marshes and in deciduous woodlands as well as sandy areas near irrigation ditches and temporary rain pools.

Reproduction. Dependent on rains, reproduction takes place March through August (typically highest March-April). Eggs are laid in long strings in shallow water

Size. Adult Fowler’s Toads average 50-75 mm (2-3 in) in length.

Calls.

Map. Orange counties indicate new county records since previous Herps of Texas update in 1998; all other colored counties reflect known distribution prior to 1998 for species and/or subspecies. Map is based on museum voucher specimens.